SOCRATES: What of that! Why, did not I ask you SOCRATES: But then, my friend, do not suppose to tell me the nature of virtue as a whole? And that we can explain to any one the nature of vir-you are very far from telling me this; but declare tue as a whole through some unexplained por-every action to be virtue which is done with a tion of virtue, or anything at all in that fashion; part of virtue; as though you had told me and I we should only have to ask over again the old must already know the whole of virtue, and this question, What is virtue? Am I not right?
too when frittered away into little pieces. And, MENO: I believe that you are.
therefore, my dear Meno, I fear that I must be-SOCRATES: Then begin again, and answer me, gin again and repeat the same question: What is What, according to you and your friend Gorgias, virtue? for otherwise, I can only say, that every is the definition of virtue?
action done with a part of virtue is virtue; what MENO: O Socrates, I used to be told, before I knew else is the meaning of saying that every action you, that you were always doubting yourself and done with justice is virtue? Ought I not to ask making others doubt; and now you are casting the question over again; for can any one who does your spells over me, and I am simply getting not know virtue know a part of virtue?
bewitched and enchanted, and am at my wits’
MENO: No; I do not say that he can.
end. And if I may venture to make a jest upon SOCRATES: Do you remember how, in the example you, you seem to me both in your appearance of figure, we rejected any answer given in terms and in your power over others to be very like the which were as yet unexplained or unadmitted?
flat torpedo fish, who torpifies those who come MENO: Yes, Socrates; and we were quite right in near him and touch him, as you have now doing so.
torpified me, I think. For my soul and my tongue 43
Meno
are really torpid, and I do not know how to an-pedo is torpid as well as the cause of torpidity in swer you; and though I have been delivered of others, then indeed I am a torpedo, but not other-an infinite variety of speeches about virtue be-wise; for I perplex others, not because I am clear, fore now, and to many persons—and very good but because I am utterly perplexed myself. And ones they were, as I thought—at this moment I now I know not what virtue is, and you seem to cannot even say what virtue is. And I think that be in the same case, although you did once per-you are very wise in not voyaging and going away haps know before you touched me. However, I have from home, for if you did in other places as you no objection to join with you in the enquiry.
do in Athens, you would be cast into prison as a MENO: And how will you enquire, Socrates, into magician.
that which you do not know? What will you put SOCRATES: You are a rogue, Meno, and had all forth as the subject of enquiry? And if you find but caught me.
what you want, how will you ever know that this MENO: What do you mean, Socrates?
is the thing which you did not know?
SOCRATES: I can tell why you made a simile about SOCRATES: I know, Meno, what you mean; but me.
just see what a tiresome dispute you are intro-MENO: Why?
ducing. You argue that a man cannot enquire ei-SOCRATES: In order that I might make another ther about that which he knows, or about that simile about you. For I know that all pretty young which he does not know; for if he knows, he has gentlemen like to have pretty similes made about no need to enquire; and if not, he cannot; for he them—as well they may—but I shall not return the does not know the very subject about which he compliment. As to my being a torpedo, if the toris to enquire (Compare Aristot. Post. Anal.).