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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from Polity of Athenians and Lacedaemonians by Xenophon: Spartan lawgiver showed a still greater anxiety in dealing with those
who had reached the prime of opening manhood; considering their
immense importance to the city in the scale of good, if only they
proved themselves the men they should be. He had only to look around
to see what wherever the spirit of emulation[2] is most deeply seated,
there, too, their choruses and gymnastic contests will present alike a
far higher charm to eye and ear. And on the same principle he
persuaded himself that he needed only to confront[3] his youthful
warriors in the strife of valour, and with like result. They also, in
their degree, might be expected to attain to some unknown height of
manly virtue.
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