“Laches” - Plato
SOCRATES: His one vote would be worth more MELESIAS: That is true.
than the vote of all us four?
SOCRATES: Great care, then, is required in this MELESIAS: Certainly.
matter?
SOCRATES: And for this reason, as I imagine,—
MELESIAS: Certainly.
because a good decision is based on knowledge and not on numbers?
SOCRATES: Suppose, as I was just now saying, that we were considering, or wanting to consider, MELESIAS: To be sure.
who was the best trainer. Should we not select him who knew and had practised the art, and had the SOCRATES: Must we not then first of all ask, best teachers?
whether there is any one of us who has knowledge of that about which we are deliberating? If there is, MELESIAS: I think that we should.
let us take his advice, though he be one only, and not mind the rest; if there is not, let us seek further SOCRATES: But would there not arise a prior ques-counsel. Is this a slight matter about which you and tion about the nature of the art of which we want Lysimachus are deliberating? Are you not risking to find the masters?
the greatest of your possessions? For children are your riches; and upon their turning out well or ill MELESIAS: I do not understand.
depends the whole order of their father’s house.