My dear Crito are you not aware that in every trade the duffers are many and worthless, whereas the good workers are few and worth any price? Why, do you not hold athletics, and money-making, and rhetoric, and generalship, to be fine things?

Certainly I do, of course.

Well then, in each of these, do you not see most men making a ridiculous show at their respective tasks?

Yes, I know: what you say is perfectly true.

Then will you yourself on this account eschew all these pursuits, and not let your son have anything to do with them?

No, there would be no good reason for that, Socrates.

Then avoid at least what is wrong, Crito: let those who practise philosophy have their way, whether they are helpful or mischievous; and when you have tested the matter itself, well and truly, if you find it to be a poor affair, turn everyone you can away from it, not only your sons: but if you find it to be such as I think it is, pursue and ply it without fear, both you, as they say, and yours.