109
Soc. But surely that is disgraceful; for if you should speak to somebody as his adviser on food, and say that one sort was better than another, at this time and in this quantity, and he then asked you—What do you mean by the better, Alcibiades?—in a matter like that you could tell him you meant the more wholesome, although you do not set up to be a physician; yet in a case where you set up to have knowledge and are ready to stand up and advise as though you knew, are you not ashamed to be unable, as appears, to answer a question upon it? Does it not seem disgraceful?
109
Alc. Very.
109
Soc. Then consider and do your best to tell me the connection of better in being at peace or at war with those to whom we ought to be so disposed.
109
Alc. Well, I am considering, but I fail to perceive it.
109
Soc. But you must know what treatment it is that we allege against each other when we enter upon a war, and what name we give it when we do so?
109
Alc. I do: we say we are victims of deceit or violence or spoliation.
109
Soc. Enough: how do we suffer each of these things? Try and tell me what difference there is between one way and another.
109
Alc. Do you mean by that, Socrates, whether it is in a just way or an unjust way?
109
Soc. Precisely.
109
Alc. Why, there you have all the difference in the world.
109
Soc. Well then, on which sort are you going to advise the Athenians to make war—those who are acting unjustly, or those who are doing what is just?
109
Alc. That is a hard question: for even if someone decides that he must go to war with those who are doing what is just, he would not admit that they were doing so.
109
Soc. For that would not be lawful, I suppose?
109
Alc. No, indeed; nor is it considered honorable either.
109
Soc. So you too will appeal to these things in making your speeches?
109
Alc. Necessarily.
109
Soc. Then must not that better about which I was asking in reference to making or not making war, on those on whom we ought to or not, and when we ought to or not, be simply and solely the juster?
109
Alc. Apparently it is.
