certainly equally important directions,

当然有着同等的重要性
but would take us much more time

但是需要更多的时间
than the time we have allotted to deal with.

远远超出分配给我们的时间去处理它
So you will read that on your own.

所以你们需要自己阅读剩下的部分
You can take another course, what have you.

你们也可以选修别的课程诸如此类
The Republic is a very perplexing book, you will find out.

你们会发现《理想国》是一本令人困惑的书
Its meaning will not be evident to you on a first reading.

当你们第一次阅读对你们来说它的意图是不明显的
It may not be clear to you on a tenth reading,

甚至在第十遍阅读的时候都不那么明晰
unless you approach it with the proper questions and the proper frame of mind.

除非你带着合适的问题和心情去阅读它
So let's start by asking a simple question.

所以让我们以一个简单的问题开始
What is the Republic about?

《理想国》是关于什么的
What does this book deal with?

这本书想要涉及什么