Some would have them learn by heart entire poets; others prefer extracts.

Now I believe, and the general opinion is, that some of the things which they learn are good, and some bad.
'Then how shall we reject some and select others ?' A happy thought occurs to me; this long discourse of ours is a sample of what we want, and is moreover an inspired work and a kind of poem.

I am naturally pleased in reflecting upon all our words, which appear to me to be just the thing for a young man to hear and learn.

I would venture, then, to offer to the Director of Education this treatise of laws as a pattern for his guidance; and in case he should find any similar compositions, written or oral, I would have him carefully preserve them, and commit them in the first place to the teachers who are willing to learn them (he should turn off the teacher who refuses), and let them communicate the lesson to the young.
I have said enough to the teacher of letters; and now we will proceed to the teacher of the lyre.

He must be reminded of the advice which we gave to the sexagenarian minstrels; like them he should be quick to perceive the rhythms suited to the expression of virtue, and to reject the opposite.