How we cite our quotes: Stephanus pagination (the standardized way in which every text of Plato is divided). Every edition and translation will have this pagination in the margins.
Quote #1
"With one tongue, [all poets] chant that moderation and justice are fair, but hard and full of drudgery, while intemperance and injustice are sweet and easy to acquire, and shameful only by opinion and law." (364a)
Even before Socrates gets going on the poets, Adeimantus voices some concerns about what kinds of morals poetry communicates. Why do poets make justice seem so hard? Now no one wants to do it. So Adeimantus says, anyway. Is that how you relate to poetry and literature?
Quote #2
“Don't you know that first we tell tales to children? And surely they are, as a whole, false..." (377a)
It's early on in the discussion of literature, but things are not looking good for the status of storytelling. Here, Socrates is specifically attacking fairy tales and myths that children are told because they are so blatantly false. There goes Little Red Riding Hood...
Quote #3
"First, as it seems, we must supervise the makers of tales; and if they make a fine tale, it must be approved, but if it's not, it must be rejected." (377b-c)
Sounds like these guardians are going to have a lot of things to regulate. Who knew storytelling was a political issue? Does that seem reasonable to you? Also, what criteria are these dudes going to use?