MENO: Certainly.
will do them good, and others who know that SOCRATES: Then are there some who desire the they will do them harm.
evil and others who desire the good? Do not all SOCRATES: And, in your opinion, do those who men, my dear sir, desire good?
think that they will do them good know that they MENO: I think not.
are evils?
SOCRATES: There are some who desire evil?
MENO: Certainly not.
MENO: Yes.
SOCRATES: Is it not obvious that those who are SOCRATES: Do you mean that they think the evils ignorant of their nature do not desire them; but which they desire, to be good; or do they know they desire what they suppose to be goods al-that they are evil and yet desire them?
though they are really evils; and if they are mis-MENO: Both, I think.
taken and suppose the evils to be goods they reSOCRATES: And do you really imagine, Meno, ally desire goods?
that a man knows evils to be evils and desires MENO: Yes, in that case.
them notwithstanding?
SOCRATES: Well, and do those who, as you say, MENO: Certainly I do.
desire evils, and think that evils are hurtful to SOCRATES: And desire is of possession?
the possessor of them, know that they will be MENO: Yes, of possession.
hurt by them?
SOCRATES: And does he think that the evils will MENO: They must know it.
do good to him who possesses them, or does he SOCRATES: And must they not suppose that know that they will do him harm?
those who are hurt are miserable in proportion MENO: There are some who think that the evils to the hurt which is inflicted upon them?