Book 3, Chapter 4

At another time, seeing Nicomachides on his way back from the elections (of magistrates), ¹ he asked him: Who are elected generals, Nicomachides?

Another time, he saw Nicomachides returning from the election of magistrates. ¹ He asked him: Who was elected general, Nicomachides?

And he: Is it not just like them, these citizens of Athens—just like them, I say—to go and elect, not me, who ever since my name first appeared on the muster-roll have literally worn myself out with military service—now as a captain, now as a colonel—and have received all these wounds from the enemy, look you! (at the same time, and suiting the action to the word, he bared his arms and proceeded to show the scars of ancient wounds)—they elect not me (he went on), but, if you please, Antisthenes! who never served as a hoplite ² in his life nor in the cavalry ever made a brilliant stroke, that I ever heard tell of; no! in fact, he has got no science at all, I take it, except to amass stores of wealth.

And he said: Is that not just like the citizens of Athens? They elect someone else instead of me, though I have worn myself out with military service ever since my name first appeared on the muster-roll. I have served as a captain and as a colonel. And look at all these wounds I received from the enemy! (As he spoke, he bared his arms and showed the scars of old wounds.) They do not elect me, he went on, but Antisthenes, of all people! He has never served as a hoplite ² in his life. Nor has he ever done anything brilliant in the cavalry, as far as I have heard. No, I take it he has no skill at all except amassing wealth.

But still (returned Socrates), surely that is one point in his favour—he ought to be able to provide the troops with supplies.

“But still,” Socrates replied, “surely that is one point in his favor. He should be able to provide the troops with supplies.”

Nic. Well, for the matter of that, merchants are good hands at collecting stores; but it does not follow that a merchant or trader will be able to command an army.

Nic. Well, merchants are good at gathering supplies. But that does not mean a merchant or trader can command an army.

But (rejoined Socrates) Antisthenes is a man of great pertinacity, who insists on winning, and that is a very necessary quality in a general. ³ Do not you see how each time he has been choragos ⁴ he has been successful with one chorus after another?

But Socrates replied, Antisthenes is very persistent and determined to win. That is a quality a general needs. ³ Don't you see that every time he has served as choragos ⁴ he has succeeded with one chorus after another?

Nic. Bless me! yes; but there is a wide difference between standing at the head of a band of singers and dancers and a troop of soldiers.

Nic. Goodness, yes! But leading a group of singers and dancers is very different from leading a troop of soldiers.

Soc. Still, without any practical skill in singing or in the training of a chorus, Antisthenes somehow had the art to select the greatest proficients in both.

Soc. Still, Antisthenes had no practical skill in singing or training a chorus. Yet he somehow knew how to choose the most skilled people in both.

Nic. Yes, and by the same reasoning we are to infer that on a campaign he will find proficients, some to marshal the troops for him and others to fight his battles?

Nic. Yes, and by the same reasoning, should we conclude that on a campaign he will find skilled people to organize his troops and others to fight his battles?

Soc. Just so. If in matters military he only exhibits the same skill in selecting the best hands as he has shown in matters of the chorus, it is highly probable he will here also bear away the palm of victory; and we may presume that if he expended so much to win a choric victory with a single tribe, ⁵ he will be ready to expend more to secure a victory in war with the whole state to back him.

Soc. Exactly. If he shows the same skill in choosing the best people for war as he did for the chorus, he will very likely win there too. And if he spent so much to win a chorus competition with a single tribe, ⁵ we may assume he will spend more to win a war with the whole state behind him.

Nic. Do you really mean, Socrates, that it is the function of the same man to provide efficient choruses and to act as commander-in-chief?

Nic. Do you really mean, Socrates, that the same man should provide effective choruses and serve as commander-in-chief?

Soc. I mean this, that, given a man knows what he needs to provide, and has the skill to do so, no matter what the department of things may be—house or city or army—you will find him a good chief and director ⁶ of the same.

Soc. I mean this: if a man knows what he needs to provide and knows how to provide it, he will be a good leader and manager ⁶, whether of a household, a city, or an army.

Then Nicomachides: Upon my word, Socrates, I should never have expected to hear you say that a good housekeeper ⁷ and steward of an estate would make a good general.

Then Nicomachides said: Socrates, I never expected to hear you say that a good household manager ⁷ and estate steward would make a good general.

Soc. Come then, suppose we examine their respective duties, and so determine ⁸ whether they are the same or different.

Soc. Come on, let's examine their respective duties and decide ⁸ whether they are the same or different.

Nic. Let us do so.

Nic. Let's do that.

Soc. Well then, is it not a common duty of both to procure the ready obedience of those under them to their orders?

Soc. Well then, isn't it the duty of both to ensure that those under them promptly obey their orders?

Nic. Certainly.

Nic. Of course.

Soc. And also to assign to those best qualified to perform them their distinctive tasks?

Soc. And also to assign each task to those best qualified to perform it?

That, too, belongs to both alike (he answered).

That belongs to both equally, too, he answered.

Soc. Again, to chastise the bad and reward the good belongs to both alike, methinks?

Soc. Again, I think both are responsible for punishing the bad and rewarding the good?

Nic. Decidedly.

Nic. Absolutely.

Soc. And to win the kindly feeling of their subordinates must surely be the noble ambition of both?

Soc. And surely both should have the noble ambition of winning the goodwill of those under them?

That too (he answered).

That too, he answered.

Soc. And do you consider it to the interest of both alike to win the adherence of supporters and allies? ⁹

Soc. And do you think it is equally in the interest of both to gain supporters and allies? ⁹

Nic. Without a doubt.

Nic. Without a doubt.

Soc. And does it not closely concern them both to be good guardians of their respective charges?

Soc. And isn't it important for both of them to guard what is entrusted to them well?

Nic. Very much so.

Nic. Very much so.

Soc. Then it equally concerns them both to be painstaking and prodigal of toil in all their doings?

Soc. Then is it equally important for both of them to be careful and work hard in everything they do?

Nic. Yes, all these duties belong to both alike, but the parallel ends when you come to actual fighting.

Nic. Yes, all these duties belong to both equally, but the similarity ends when it comes to actual fighting.

Soc. Yet they are both sure to meet with enemies?

Soc. But are they both sure to encounter enemies?

Nic. There is no doubt about that.

Nic. There’s no doubt about that.

Soc. Then is it not to the interest of both to get the upper hand of these?

Soc. Then isn't it in both their interests to overcome these?

Nic. Certainly; but you omit to tell us what service organisation and the art of management will render when it comes to actual fighting.

Nic. Certainly, but you have not told us how organization and management will help in actual fighting.

Soc. Why, it is just then, I presume, it will be of most service, for the good economist knows that nothing is so advantageous or so lucrative as victory in battle, or to put it negatively, nothing so disastrous and expensive as defeat. He will enthusiastically seek out and provide everything conducive to victory, he will painstakingly discover and guard against all that tends to defeat, and when satisfied that all is ready and ripe for victory he will deliver battle energetically, and what is equally important, until the hour of final preparation has arrived, ¹⁰ he will be cautious to deliver battle. Do not despise men of economic genius, Nicomachides; the difference between the devotion requisite to private affairs and to affairs of state is merely one of quantity. For the rest the parallel holds strictly, and in this respect pre-eminently, that both are concerned with human instruments: which human beings, moreover, are of one type and temperament, whether we speak of devotion to public affairs or of the administration of private property. To fare well in either case is given to those who know the secret of dealing with humanity, whereas the absence of that knowledge will as certainly imply in either case a fatal note of discord. ¹¹

Soc. Why, I suppose that is exactly when his skill will be most useful. A good manager knows that nothing is as advantageous or profitable as victory in battle. And nothing is as disastrous or costly as defeat. He will eagerly seek out and provide everything that helps bring victory. He will carefully identify and guard against everything that leads to defeat. When he is satisfied that all is ready for victory, he will fight energetically. Just as importantly, until the final preparations are complete, ¹⁰ he will be cautious about going into battle. Do not look down on men with a genius for management, Nicomachides. Private affairs and affairs of state differ only in the amount of attention they require. Otherwise, the comparison holds in every respect, especially in this: both depend on people. And people are the same in character and temperament, whether they serve the state or manage private property. Those who know how to deal with people will succeed in either case. Those who lack that knowledge will just as surely cause fatal discord in either case. ¹¹