143
Soc. Then it seems that ignorance of what is best, and to be ignorant of the best, is a bad thing.
143
Alc. I agree.
143
Soc. And not only for the person himself, but for everyone else?
143
Alc. Yes.
144
Soc. Then let us consider this further case. Suppose it should quite suddenly occur to your mind that you had better take a dagger and go to the door of Pericles, your own guardian and friend, and ask if he were at home, with the design of killing just him and no one else, and his servants said he was at home: now, I do not say you would be inclined to do any such thing, but I suppose, if you are under the impression which at some moment may well be present, surely, to the mind of a man who is ignorant of the best—that what is really the worst is best at some moment—or do you not agree?
144
Alc. Quite so.
144
Soc. Well then, if you went indoors and saw Pericles himself, but did not know him, and thought he was somebody else, would you still venture to kill him?
144
Alc. No, upon my word, I should think not.
144
Soc. For your man was, I presume, not anyone you met, but that particular person whom you wished to kill?
144
Alc. Yes.
144
Soc. And although you might make a number of attempts, if you always failed to know Pericles when you were about to commit the act, you would never attack him.
144
Alc. No, indeed.
144
Soc. Well now, do you suppose that Orestes would ever have attacked his mother if he had similarly failed to know her?
144
Alc. I do not think he would.
144
Soc. For presumably he, too, had no intention of killing the first woman he met, or anybody else’s mother, but only his own.
144
Alc. That is so.
144
Soc. Then to be ignorant in such matters is better for those who are so disposed and have formed such resolves.
144
Alc. Apparently.
144
Soc. So you see that ignorance of certain things is for certain persons in certain states a good, not an evil, as you supposed just now.
144
Alc. It seems to be.
144
Soc. Then if you care to consider the sequel of this, I daresay it will surprise you.
144
Alc. What may that be, Socrates?
