meno   

Any. Yes.

Soc. Let me trouble you with one more question. When we say that

we should be right in sending him to the physicians if we wanted him

to be a physician, do we mean that we should be right in sending him

to those who profess the art, rather than to those who do not, and

to those who demand payment for teaching the art, and profess to teach

it to any one who will come and learn? And if these were our

reasons, should we not be right in sending him?

Any. Yes.

Soc. And might not the same be said of flute-playing, and of the

other arts? Would a man who wanted to make another a flute-player

refuse to send him to those who profess to teach the art for money,

and be plaguing other persons to give him instruction, who are not

professed teachers and who never had a single disciple in that

branch of knowledge which he wishes him to acquire-would not such

conduct be the height of folly?

Any. Yes, by Zeus, and of ignorance too.

Soc. Very good. And now you are in a position to advise with me

about my friend Meno. He has been telling me, Anytus, that he

desires to attain that kind of wisdom and-virtue by which men order

the state or the house, and honour their parents, and know when to

receive and when to send away citizens and strangers, as a good man

should. Now, to whom should he go in order that he may learn this

virtue? Does not the previous argument imply clearly that we should

send him to those who profess and avouch that they are the common

teachers of all Hellas, and are ready to impart instruction to any one

who likes, at a fixed price?

Any. Whom do you mean, Socrates?

Soc. You surely know, do you not, Anytus, that these are the

people whom mankind call Sophists?

Any. By Heracles, Socrates, forbear! I only hope that no friend or

kinsman or acquaintance of mine, whether citizen or stranger, will