The plan of the Laws is more irregular and has less connexion than any other of the writings of Plato.

As Aristotle says in the Politics, 'The greater part consists of laws'; in Books v, vi, xi, xii the dialogue almost entirely disappears.

Large portions of them are rather the materials for a work than a finished composition which may rank with the other Platonic dialogues.

To use his own image, 'Some stones are regularly inserted in the building; others are lying on the ground ready for use.' There is probably truth in the tradition that the Laws were not published until after the death of Plato.

We can easily believe that he has left imperfections, which would have been removed if he had lived a few years longer.