euthyphro   

when you do a holy act you make any of the gods better?
Euth. No, no; that was certainly not what I meant.
Soc. And I, Euthyphro, never supposed that you did. I asked you the
question about the nature of the attention, because I thought that you
did not.
Euth. You do me justice, Socrates; that is not the sort of attention
which I mean.
Soc. Good: but I must still ask what is this attention to the gods
which is called piety?
Euth. It is such, Socrates, as servants show to their masters.
Soc. I understand-a sort of ministration to the gods.
Euth. Exactly.
Soc. Medicine is also a sort of ministration or service, having in
view the attainment of some object-would you not say of health?
Euth. I should.
Soc. Again, there is an art which ministers to the ship-builder with a
view to the attainment of some result?
Euth. Yes, Socrates, with a view to the building of a ship.
Soc. As there is an art which ministers to the housebuilder with a
view to the building of a house?
Euth. Yes.
Soc. And now tell me, my good friend, about the art which ministers to
the gods: what work does that help to accomplish? For you must surely
know if, as you say, you are of all men living the one who is best
instructed in religion.
Euth. And I speak the truth, Socrates.
Soc. Tell me then, oh tell me-what is that fair work which the gods do
by the help of our ministrations?
Euth. Many and fair, Socrates, are the works which they do. Soc. Why,
my friend, and so are those of a general. But the chief of them is
easily told. Would you not say that victory in war is the chief of
them?
Euth. Certainly.
Soc. Many and fair, too, are the works of the husbandman, if I am not
mistaken; but his chief work is the production of food from the earth?
Euth. Exactly.
Soc. And of the many and fair things done by the gods, which is the
chief or principal one?
Euth. I have told you already, Socrates, that to learn all these
things accurately will be very tiresome. Let me simply say that piety
or holiness is learning, how to please the gods in word and deed, by
prayers and sacrifices. Such piety, is the salvation of families and
states, just as the impious, which is unpleasing to the gods, is their
ruin and destruction.
Soc. I think that you could have answered in much fewer words the
chief question which I asked, Euthyphro, if you had chosen. But I see
plainly that you are not disposed to instruct me-dearly not: else why,
when we reached the point, did you turn, aside? Had you only answered
me I should have truly learned of you by this time the-nature of
piety. Now, as the asker of a question is necessarily dependent on the
answerer, whither he leads-I must follow; and can only ask again, what
is the pious, and what is piety? Do you mean that they are a, sort of
science of praying and sacrificing?
Euth. Yes, I do.
Soc. And sacrificing is giving to the gods, and prayer is asking of
the gods?
Euth. Yes, Socrates.
Soc. Upon this view, then piety is a science of asking and giving?
Euth. You understand me capitally, Socrates.
Soc. Yes, my friend; the. reason is that I am a votary of your
science, and give my mind to it, and therefore nothing which you say
will be thrown away upon me. Please then to tell me, what is the
nature of this service to the gods? Do you mean that we prefer
requests and give gifts to them?