MENO: True.
SOCRATES: Because they require to be fastened SOCRATES: Then right opinion is not less useful in order to keep them, and if they are not fas-than knowledge?
tened they will play truant and run away.
MENO: The difference, Socrates, is only that he MENO: Well, what of that?
who has knowledge will always be right; but he SOCRATES: I mean to say that they are not very who has right opinion will sometimes be right, valuable possessions if they are at liberty, for they and sometimes not.
will walk off like runaway slaves; but when fas-SOCRATES: What do you mean? Can he be wrong tened, they are of great value, for they are really who has right opinion, so long as he has right beautiful works of art. Now this is an illustration opinion?
of the nature of true opinions: while they abide MENO: I admit the cogency of your argument, with us they are beautiful and fruitful, but they and therefore, Socrates, I wonder that knowledge run away out of the human soul, and do not re-should be preferred to right opinion—or why they main long, and therefore they are not of much should ever differ.
value until they are fastened by the tie of the SOCRATES: And shall I explain this wonder to you?
cause; and this fastening of them, friend Meno, MENO: Do tell me.
is recollection, as you and I have agreed to call it.
SOCRATES: You would not wonder if you had ever But when they are bound, in the first place, they observed the images of Daedalus (Compare have the nature of knowledge; and, in the sec-Euthyphro); but perhaps you have not got them ond place, they are abiding. And this is why in your country?
knowledge is more honourable and excellent than MENO: What have they to do with the question?
true opinion, because fastened by a chain.