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Theaet. Because motion itself would be wholly at rest, and rest in turn would itself be in motion, if these two could be joined with one another.
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Str. But surely this at least is most absolutely impossible, that motion be at rest and rest be in motion?
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Theaet. Of course.
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Str. Then only the third possibility is left.
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Theaet. Yes.
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Str. And certainly one of these three must be true; either all things will mingle with one another, or none will do so, or some will and others will not.
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Theaet. Of course.
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Str. And certainly the first two were found to be impossible.
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Theaet. Yes.
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Str. Then everybody who wishes to answer correctly will adopt the remaining one of the three possibilities.
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Theaet. Precisely.
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Str. Now since some things will commingle and others will not, they are in much the same condition as the letters of the alphabet; for some of these do not fit each other, and others do.
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Theaet. Of course.
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Str. And the vowels, to a greater degree than the others, run through them all as a bond, so that without one of the vowels the other letters cannot be joined one to another.
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Theaet. Certainly.
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Str. Now does everybody know which letters can join with which others? Or does he who is to join them properly have need of art?
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Theaet. He has need of art.
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Str. What art?
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Theaet. The art of grammar.
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Str. And is not the same true in connection with high and low sounds? Is not he who has the art to know the sounds which mingle and those which do not, musical, and he who does not know unmusical?
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Theaet. Yes.
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Str. And we shall find similar conditions, then, in all the other arts and processes which are devoid of art?
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Theaet. Of course.