meno   

Men. Yes.

Soc. And the women too, Meno, call good men divine-do they not?

and the Spartans, when they praise a good man, say "that he is a

divine man."

Men. And I think, Socrates, that they are right; although very

likely our friend Anytus may take offence at the word.

Soc. I da not care; as for Anytus, there will be another opportunity

of talking with him. To sum up our enquiry-the result seems to be,

if we are at all right in our view, that virtue is neither natural nor

acquired, but an instinct given by God to the virtuous. Nor is the

instinct accompanied by reason, unless there may be supposed to be

among statesmen some one who is capable of educating statesmen. And if

there be such an one, he may be said to be among the living what Homer

says that Tiresias was among the dead, "he alone has understanding;

but the rest are flitting shades"; and he and his virtue in like

manner will be a reality among shadows.

Men. That is excellent, Socrates.

Soc. Then, Meno, the conclusion is that virtue comes to the virtuous

by the gift of God. But we shall never know the certain truth until,

before asking how virtue is given, we enquire into the actual nature

of virtue. I fear that I must go away, but do you, now that you are

persuaded yourself, persuade our friend Anytus. And do not let him

be so exasperated; if you can conciliate him, you will have done

good service to the Athenian people.


-THE END-