Of course, he replied.
Critias had long been showing uneasiness, for he felt that Then temperance, I said, will not be doing one’s own he had a reputation to maintain with Charmides and the business; not at least in this way, or doing things of this rest of the company. He had, however, hitherto managed sort?
to restrain himself; but now he could no longer forbear, Clearly not.
and I am convinced of the truth of the suspicion which I Then, as I was just now saying, he who declared that entertained at the time, that Charmides had heard this temperance is a man doing his own business had another answer about temperance from Critias. And Charmides, and a hidden meaning; for I do not think that he could who did not want to answer himself, but to make Critias have been such a fool as to mean this. Was he a fool who answer, tried to stir him up. He went on pointing out that told you, Charmides?
he had been refuted, at which Critias grew angry, and ap-Nay, he replied, I certainly thought him a very wise man.
peared, as I thought, inclined to quarrel with him; just as a Then I am quite certain that he put forth his definition poet might quarrel with an actor who spoiled his poems in as a riddle, thinking that no one would know the meaning repeating them; so he looked hard at him and said—
of the words ‘doing his own business.’
Do you imagine, Charmides, that the author of this defi-I dare say, he replied.
nition of temperance did not understand the meaning of 13
“Charmides” – Plato
his own words, because you do not understand them?
‘doing one’s own business,’ and then says that there is no Why, at his age, I said, most excellent Critias, he can reason why those who do the business of others should not hardly be expected to understand; but you, who are older, be temperate.
and have studied, may well be assumed to know the mean-Nay (The English reader has to observe that the word ing of them; and therefore, if you agree with him, and ac-
‘make’ (Greek), in Greek, has also the sense of ‘do’ (Greek).), cept his definition of temperance, I would much rather said he; did I ever acknowledge that those who do the busi-argue with you than with him about the truth or falsehood ness of others are temperate? I said, those who make, not of the definition.