PHAEDO - That is plain.

SOCRATES - And if a company of men should find an island and go and live
upon it and be strong enough to subdue the wild animals and keep out
other men, that island would be for their use.

PHAEDO - That follows, because sovereignty goes with power exercised in
force.

SOCRATES - And so if one man should find a vacant space and take
possession, it would be his.

PHAEDO - That is true.

SOCRATES - And what belongs to man, man may dispose of as he will.

PHAEDO - All men agree to that.

SOCRATES - And, therefore, since Hippocrates has found a vacant space on
the earth and taken possession thereof, and no man disputes his
possession, it is his and he may sell it.

PHAEDO - That is certainly true, and I do not doubt that Hipparchus will
now pay down his talent of silver and take over the vale in the Olympian
forest.

SOCRATES - And if instead of finding an island the company of men had
found an entire continent it would be theirs if they were strong enough
to keep it.