But if I am right, nothing can be more foolish than our modern fashion of training men and women differently, whereby the power the city is reduced to a half.

For reflect--if women are not to have the education of men, some other must be found for them, and what other can we propose?
Shall they, like the women of Thrace, tend cattle and till the ground; or, like our own, spin and weave, and take care of the house?
or shall they follow the Spartan custom, which is between the two ?--there the maidens share in gymnastic exercises and in music; and the grown women, no longer engaged in spinning, weave the web of life, although they are not skilled in archery, like the Amazons, nor can they imitate our warrior goddess and carry shield or spear, even in the extremity of their country's need.

Compared with our women, the Sauromatides are like men.

But your legislators, Megillus, as I maintain, only half did their work; they took care of the men, and left the women to take care of themselves.
'Shall we suffer the Stranger, Cleinias, to run down Sparta in this way ?' 'Why, yes; for we cannot withdraw the liberty which we have already conceded to him.' What will be the manner of life of men in moderate circumstances, freed from the toils of agriculture and business, and having common tables for themselves and their families which are under the inspection of magistrates, male and female?
Are men who have these institutions only to eat and fatten like beasts?
If they do, how can they escape the fate of a fatted beast, which is to be torn in pieces by some other beast more valiant than himself?
True, theirs is not the perfect way of life, for they have not all things in common; but the second best way of life also confers great blessings.

Even those who live in the second state have a work to do twice as great as the work of any Pythian or Olympic victor; for their labour is for the body only, but ours both for body and soul.