“Laches” - Plato
SOCRATES: And all these are courageous, but some is worth mentioning of arms, legs, mouth, voice, have courage in pleasures, and some in pains: some mind;—would you not apply the term quickness to in desires, and some in fears, and some are cowards all of them?
under the same conditions, as I should imagine.
LACHES: Quite true.
LACHES: Very true.
SOCRATES: And suppose I were to be asked by SOCRATES: Now I was asking about courage and some one: What is that common quality, Socrates, cowardice in general. And I will begin with cour-which, in all these uses of the word, you call quick-age, and once more ask, What is that common qual-ness? I should say the quality which accomplishes ity, which is the same in all these cases, and which much in a little time—whether in running, speakis called courage? Do you now understand what I ing, or in any other sort of action.
mean?
LACHES: You would be quite correct.
LACHES: Not over well.
SOCRATES: And now, Laches, do you try and tell SOCRATES: I mean this: As I might ask what is me in like manner, What is that common quality that quality which is called quickness, and which is which is called courage, and which includes all the found in running, in playing the lyre, in speaking, various uses of the term when applied both to plea-in learning, and in many other similar actions, or sure and pain, and in all the cases to which I was rather which we possess in nearly every action that just now referring?