Euthydemus (294-295)

Soc.

So you know everything, I asked, since you know anything?

he replied; Good Heavens, I cried, what a wonderful statement! What a great blessing to boast of! And the rest of mankind, do they know everything or nothing? he said, But what then? I asked. he replied, In the name of goodness, Dionysodorus, I said—for now I can see both of you are serious; before, I could hardly prevail on you to be so—do you yourselves really know everything? Carpentry, for instance, and shoe-making? he said. And you are good hands at leather-stitching? he said. And are you good also at such things as counting the stars, and the sand? he said: Here Ctesippus broke in: he asked. he rejoined, he replied: Well, as they supposed we were making fun of them, they would not do it: only they agreed that they knew all subjects, when questioned on them, one after the other, by Ctesippus; who, before he had done with them, asked them if they knew every kind of thing, even the most unseemly, without the least reserve; while they most valiantly encountered his questions, agreeing that they had the knowledge in each case, like boars when driven up to face the spears: so that I for my part, Crito, became quite incredulous,and had to ask in the end if Dionysodorus knew also how to dance. To which he replied: I do not suppose, I said, that you have attained such a degree of skill as to do sword-dancing, or be whirled about on a wheel, at your time of life? he said, Then tell me, I went on, do you know everything at present only, or for ever? he said. And when you were children, and were just born, you knew? they both replied together.

Soc.

Now, to us the thing seemed incredible: then Euthydemus said:

I will only say, I replied, that you must indeed be clever. he said, Oh, I am only too glad, I replied, to be refuted in the matter. For if I am not aware of my own cleverness, and you are going to show me that I know everything always, what greater stroke of luck than this could befall me in all my living days? he said. Ask: I am ready to answer. I have. With that whereby I have knowledge: I think you mean the soul, or is not that your meaning? he said, Very well, I said: but how am I to proceed? I will do just as you bid me. When I cannot tell what you are asking, is it your order that I answer all the same, without asking a question upon it? he replied, I do, I replied. Well, I said, if you ask a question with a different meaning in your mind from that which I conceive, and I answer to the latter, are you content I should answer nothing to the point? he replied, Then I declare I shall not answer, I said, before I get it right. he said, Here I perceived he was annoyed with me for distinguishing between the phrases used, when he wanted to entrap me in his verbal snares. So I remembered Connus, how he too is annoyed with me whenever I do not give in to him, with the result that he now takes less trouble over me as being a stupid person. So being minded to take lessons from this new teacher, I decided that I had better give in, lest he should take me for a blockhead and not admit me to his classes. So I said: Well, if you think fit, Euthydemus, to proceed thus, we must do so; in any case I suppose you understand debating better than I do—you are versed in the method, and I am but a layman. Begin your questions, then, over again. he said: I do, I replied; by means of my soul.