Plato, Laws 926a

συγγνώμην δʼ αὖ καὶ τοῖς νομοθετουμένοις, ὡς τὰ τοῦ νομοθετοῦντος εἰκότως ἐνίοτε οὐ δύνανται προστάγματα τελεῖν, ἃ μὴ γιγνώσκων προστάττει. τί δή τις οὖν, ὦ ξένε, δρῶν πρὸς τὰ τοιαῦτα ἐμμετρότατος ἂν εἴη; διαιτητάς, ὦ Κλεινία, τοῖς τοιούτοις νόμοις καὶ νομοθετουμένοις ἀναγκαῖον αἱρεῖσθαι. πῶς λέγεις; ἔστιν ὅτε πλουσίου πατρὸς ἀδελφιδοῦς τὴν τοῦ

and requesting pardon also for the subjects of the law, inasmuch as they are naturally unable at times to carry out ordinances of the lawgiver laid down by him in ignorance. As regards this, Stranger, what would be the most rational course of action to adopt? It is necessary, Clinias, that for laws of this kind, and those whom they affect, arbitrators should be chosen. How do you mean? It might happen that a nephew, who has a rich father, would be loth to take to wife his uncle’s daughter,