Now the time which is thus spent is no less than three years, and is a very considerable portion of life to be passed ill or well.
CLEINIAS: True.
ATHENIAN: Does not the discontented and ungracious nature appear to you to be full of lamentations and sorrows more than a good man ought to be?
CLEINIAS: Certainly.
ATHENIAN: Well, but if during these three years every possible care were taken that our nursling should have as little of sorrow and fear, and in general of pain as was possible, might we not expect in early childhood to make his soul more gentle and cheerful?
(Compare Arist.

Pol.) CLEINIAS: To be sure, Stranger--more especially if we could procure him a variety of pleasures.
ATHENIAN: There I can no longer agree, Cleinias: you amaze me.

To bring him up in such a way would be his utter ruin; for the beginning is always the most critical part of education.

Let us see whether I am right.
CLEINIAS: Proceed.
ATHENIAN: The point about which you and I differ is of great importance, and I hope that you, Megillus, will help to decide between us.

For I maintain that the true life should neither seek for pleasures, nor, on the other hand, entirely avoid pains, but should embrace the middle state (compare Republic), which I just spoke of as gentle and benign, and is a state which we by some divine presage and inspiration rightly ascribe to God.