The Youth Explosion

Musical training is a more potent instrument

than any other, because rhythm and harmony

find their way into the inward places of the soul;

on which they mightily fasten, imparting grace,

and making the soul of him who is rightly educated graceful,

or of him who is ill-educated ungraceful;

and also because he who has received

this education of the inner being

will most shrewdly perceive omissions

or faults in art and nature,

and with a true taste,

while he praises and rejoices over

and receives into his soul the good,

and becomes noble and good,

he will justly blame and hate the bad,

now in the days of his youth,

even before he is able to know the reason why;

and when reason comes he will recognise

and salute the friend with whom his

education has made him long familiar.

-Plato, The Republic, Book III