MENO: Well, Socrates, and is not the argument moral is, that a man ought to live always in per-sound?
fect holiness. ‘For in the ninth year Persephone SOCRATES: I think not.
sends the souls of those from whom she has re-MENO: Why not?
ceived the penalty of ancient crime back again SOCRATES: I will tell you why: I have heard from from beneath into the light of the sun above, and certain wise men and women who spoke of things these are they who become noble kings and divine that—
mighty men and great in wisdom and are called MENO: What did they say?
saintly heroes in after ages.’ The soul, then, as SOCRATES: They spoke of a glorious truth, as I being immortal, and having been born again conceive.
many times, and having seen all things that ex-MENO: What was it? and who were they?
ist, whether in this world or in the world below, SOCRATES: Some of them were priests and priest-has knowledge of them all; and it is no wonder esses, who had studied how they might be able that she should be able to call to remembrance to give a reason of their profession: there have all that she ever knew about virtue, and about been poets also, who spoke of these things by everything; for as all nature is akin, and the soul inspiration, like Pindar, and many others who has learned all things; there is no difficulty in were inspired. And they say—mark, now, and see her eliciting or as men say learning, out of a single whether their words are true—they say that the recollection all the rest, if a man is strenuous and soul of man is immortal, and at one time has an does not faint; for all enquiry and all learning is end, which is termed dying, and at another time but recollection. And therefore we ought not to is born again, but is never destroyed. And the listen to this sophistical argument about the im-45
Meno
possibility of enquiry: for it will make us idle; pose that you call one of your numerous atten-and is sweet only to the sluggard; but the other dants, that I may demonstrate on him.
saying will make us active and inquisitive. In that MENO: Certainly. Come hither, boy.
confiding, I will gladly enquire with you into the SOCRATES: He is Greek, and speaks Greek, does nature of virtue.
he not?
MENO: Yes, Socrates; but what do you mean by MENO: Yes, indeed; he was born in the house.
saying that we do not learn, and that what we SOCRATES: Attend now to the questions which I call learning is only a process of recollection? Can ask him, and observe whether he learns of me or you teach me how this is?
only remembers.
SOCRATES: I told you, Meno, just now that you MENO: I will.
were a rogue, and now you ask whether I can SOCRATES: Tell me, boy, do you know that a fig-teach you, when I am saying that there is no ure like this is a square?
teaching, but only recollection; and thus you BOY: I do.
imagine that you will involve me in a contradic-SOCRATES: And you know that a square figure tion.
has these four lines equal?
MENO: Indeed, Socrates, I protest that I had no BOY: Certainly.
such intention. I only asked the question from SOCRATES: And these lines which I have drawn habit; but if you can prove to me that what you through the middle of the square are also equal?
say is true, I wish that you would.
BOY: Yes.
SOCRATES: It will be no easy matter, but I will SOCRATES: A square may be of any size?
try to please you to the utmost of my power. Sup-BOY: Certainly.