meno   

Virtue is the desire of things honourable and the power of

attaining them.



Soc. And does he who desires the honourable also desire the good?

Men. Certainly.

Soc. Then are there some who desire the evil and others who desire

the good? Do not all men, my dear sir, desire good?

Men. I think not.

Soc. There are some who desire evil?

Men. Yes.

Soc. Do you mean that they think the evils which they desire, to

be good; or do they know that they are evil and yet desire them?

Men. Both, I think.

Soc. And do you really imagine, Meno, that a man knows evils to be

evils and desires them notwithstanding?

Men. Certainly I do.

Soc. And desire is of possession?

Men. Yes, of possession.

Soc. And does he think that the evils will do good to him who

possesses them, or does he know that they will do him harm?

Men. There are some who think that the evils will do them good,

and others who know that they will do them harm.

Soc. And, in your opinion, do those who think that they will do them

good know that they are evils?

Men. Certainly not.

Soc. Is it not obvious that those who are ignorant of their nature

do not desire them; but they desire what they suppose to be goods

although they are really evils; and if they are mistaken and suppose

the evils to be good they really desire goods?

Men. Yes, in that case.

Soc. Well, and do those who, as you say, desire evils, and think