protagoras   

But you see, Socrates, said Callias, that Protagoras may fairly

claim to speak in his own way, just as you claim to speak in yours.

Here Alcibiades interposed, and said: That, Callias, is not a true

statement of the case. For our friend Socrates admits that he cannot

make a speech-in this he yields the palm to Protagoras: but I should

be greatly surprised if he yielded to any living man in the power of

holding and apprehending an argument. Now if Protagoras will make a

similar admission, and confess that he is inferior to Socrates in

argumentative skill, that is enough for Socrates; but if he claims a

superiority in argument as well, let him ask and answer-not, when a

question is asked, slipping away from the point, and instead of

answering, making a speech at such length that most of his hearers

forget the question at issue (not that Socrates is likely to

forget-I will be bound for that, although he may pretend in fun that

he has a bad memory). And Socrates appears to me to be more in the

right than Protagoras; that is my view, and every man ought to say

what he thinks.

When Alcibiades had done speaking, some one-Critias, I

believe-went on to say: O Prodicus and Hippias, Callias appears to

me to be a partisan of Protagoras: and this led Alcibiades, who

loves opposition, to take the other side. But we should not be

partisans either of Socrates or of Protagoras; let us rather unite

in entreating both of them not to break up the discussion.

Prodicus added: That, Critias, seems to me to be well said, for

those who are present at such discussions ought to be impartial

hearers of both the speakers; remembering, however, that

impartiality is not the same as equality, for both sides should be

impartially heard, and yet an equal meed should not be assigned to

both of them; but to the wiser a higher meed should be given, and a

lower to the less wise. And I as well as Critias would beg you,

Protagoras and Socrates, to grant our request, which is, that you will

argue with one another and not wrangle; for friends argue with friends