gorgias   

Soc. How then can the rhetoricians or the tyrants have great power

in states, unless Polus can refute Socrates, and prove to him that

they do as they will?

Pol. This fellow-

Soc. I say that they do not do as they will-now refute me.

Pol. Why, have you not already said that they do as they think best?

Soc. And I say so still.

Pol. Then surely they do as they will?

Soc. I deny it.

Pol. But they do what they think best?

Soc. Aye.

Pol. That, Socrates, is monstrous and absurd.

Soc. Good words, good Polus, as I may say in your own peculiar

style; but if you have any questions to ask of me, either prove that I

am in error or give the answer yourself.

Pol. Very well, I am willing to answer that I may know what you

mean.

Soc. Do men appear to you to will that which they do, or to will

that further end for the sake of which they do a thing? when they take

medicine, for example, at the bidding of a physician, do they will the

drinking of the medicine which is painful, or the health for the

sake of which they drink?

Pol. Clearly, the health.

Soc. And when men go on a voyage or engage in business, they do

not will that which they are doing at the time; for who would desire

to take the risk of a voyage or the trouble of business?-But they

will, to have the wealth for the sake of which they go on a voyage.

Pol. Certainly.

Soc. And is not this universally true? If a man does something for

the sake of something else, he wills not that which he does, but

that for the sake of which he does it.

Pol. Yes.