Memorabilia

When Hippias heard this, How now? he cried in a tone of raillery, still the same old sentiments, Socrates, that I heard from you so long ago?Yes, Hippias, he replied, always the same, and — what is more astonishing — on the same topics too! You are so learned that I daresay you never say the same thing on the same subjects.I certainly try to say something fresh every time.Do you mean, about what you know?

For example, in answer to the question, How many letters are there in Socrates and how do you spell it? do you try to say something different now from what you said before? Or take figures: suppose you are asked if twice five are ten, don’t you give the same answer now as you gave before?About letters and figures, Socrates, I always say the same thing, just like you. As for Justice, I feel confident that I can now say that which neither you nor anyone else can contradict.

Upon my word, you mean to say that you have made a great discovery, if jurymen are to cease from voting different ways, citizens from disputing and litigation, and wrangling about the justice of their claims, cities from quarrelling about their rights and making war; and for my part, I don’t see how to tear myself away from you till I have heard about your great discovery.

But I vow you shall not hear unless you first declare your own opinion about the nature of Justice; for it’s enough that you mock at others, questioning and examining everybody, and never willing to render an account yourself or to state an opinion about anything.Indeed, Hippias!

Haven’t you noticed that I never cease to declare my notions of what is just?And how can you call that an account?I declare them by my deeds, anyhow, if not by my words. Don’t you think that deeds are better evidence than words?Yes, much better, of course; for many say what is just and do what is unjust; but no one who does what is just can be unjust.