Economics

And what comes of these activities, Socrates? Not, as you perhaps expected to hear, that I am generally dubbed a gentleman, but that I am persistently slandered.

Ah, said I, but I was meaning to ask you, Ischomachus, whether you include in your system ability to conduct a prosecution and defence, in case you have to appear in the courts? Why, Socrates, he answered, do you not see[*](Mem. IV. viii. 4.) that this is just what I am constantly practising—showing my traducers that I wrong no man and do all the good I can to many? And do you not think that I practise myself in accusing, by taking careful note of certain persons who are doing wrong to many individuals and to the state, and are doing no good to anyone?

But tell me one thing more, Ischomachus, I said; do you also practise the art of expounding these matters? Why, Socrates, he replied, I assiduously practise the art of speaking. For I get one of the servants to act as prosecutor or defendant, and try to confute him; or I praise or blame someone before his friends; or I act as peace-maker between some of my acquaintances by trying to show them that it is to their interest to be friends rather than enemies.

I assist at a court-martial and censure a soldier, or take turns in defending a man who is unjustly blamed, or in accusing one who is unjustly honoured. We often sit in counsel and speak in support of the course we want to adopt and against the course we want to avoid.

I have often been singled out before now, Socrates, and condemned to suffer punishment or pay damages.By whom, Ischomachus? I asked; I am in the dark about that!’ By my wife, was his answer. And, pray, how do you plead? said I. Pretty well, when it is to my interest to speak the truth. But when lying is called for, Socrates, I can’t make the worse cause appear the better—oh no, not at all. Perhaps, Ischomachus, I commented, you can’t make the falsehood into the truth!