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Soc. Well, but did you ever find a man who was wise in anything and yet unable to make another man wise in the same things as himself? For instance, the man who taught you letters was wise himself, and also made you wise, and anyone else he wished to, did he not?
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Alc. Yes.
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Soc. And you too, who learnt from him, will be able to make another man wise?
118
Alc. Yes.
118
Soc. And the same holds of the harper and the trainer?
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Alc. Certainly.
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Soc. For, I presume, it is a fine proof of one’s knowing anything that one knows, when one is able to point to another man whom one has made to know it.
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Alc. I agree.
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Soc. Well then, can you tell me whom Pericles made wise? One of his sons, to begin with?
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Alc. But what if the two sons of Pericles were simpletons, Socrates?
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Soc. Well, Cleinias, your brother.
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Alc. But why should you mention Cleinias, a madman?
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Soc. Well, if Cleinias is mad and the two sons of Pericles were simpletons, what reason are we to assign, in your case, for his allowing you to be in your present condition?
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Alc. I believe I am myself to blame for not attending to him.
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Soc. But tell me of any other Athenian or foreigner, slave or freeman, who is accounted to have become wiser through converse with Pericles; as I can tell you that Pythodorus A friend of Zeno: cf. Plat. Parm. 126. son of Isolochus, and Callias, An Athenian general. son of Calliades, became through that of Zeno Of Elea, in S. Italy; a disciple of Parmenides who criticized the Pythagorean teaching.; each of them has paid Zeno a hundred minae, About 600-800 pounds, or the total expenses of two or three years at an English University. and has become both wise and distinguished.
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Alc. Well, upon my word, I cannot.
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Soc. Very good: then what is your intention regarding yourself? Will you remain as you are, or take some trouble?
119
Alc. We must put our heads together, Socrates. And indeed, as soon as you speak, I take the point and agree. For the men who manage the city’s affairs, apart from a few, do strike me as uneducated.
