Odysseus, or Sisyphus,
or numberless others, men and women too! What infinite delight
would there be in conversing with them and asking them questions!"
(Jowett).

(20) For {dialegein kata gene} = {dialegesthai}, cf. Grote, "H. G."
viii. 590.

(21) Cf. Plat. "Rep." 534 D; "Phaedr." 252 E; "Crat." 390 C;
"Statesm." 286 D foll.

VI

At this point I will endeavour to explain in what way Socrates fostered
this greater "dialectic" capacity among his intimates. (1) He held
firmly to the opinion that if a man knew what each reality was, he would
be able to explain this knowledge to others; but, failing the possession
of that knowledge, it did not surprise him that men should stumble
themselves and cause others to stumble also. (2) It was for this reason
that he never ceased inquiring with those who were with him into
the true nature of things that are. (3) It would be a long business
certainly to go through in detail all the definitions at which he
arrived; I will therefore content myself with such examples as will
serve to show his method of procedure. As a first instance I will
take the question of piety. The mode of investigation may be fairly
represented as follows.

(1) Lit. "essayed to make those who were with him more potent in
dialectic."

(2) Or, "Socrates believed that any one who knew the nature of
anything would be able to let others into his secret; but, failing
that knowledge, he thought the best of men would be but blind
leaders of the blind, stumbling themselves and causing others to
stumble also."

(3) Or add, "'What is this among things? and what is its definition?'
--such was the ever-recurrent question for which he sought an
answer."

Tell me (said he), Euthydemus, what sort of thing you take piety to be?

Something most fair and excellent, no doubt (the other answered). (4)

(4) Or, "A supreme excellence, no doubt."

Soc. And can you tell me what sort of person the pious man is? (5)

(5) Or, "can you give me a definition of the pious man?"; "tell me who
and what the pious man is."

I should say (he answered) he is a man who honours the gods.

Soc. And is it allowable to honour the gods in any mode or fashion one
likes?

Euth. No; there are laws in accordance with which one must do that.

Soc. Then he who knows these laws will know how he must honour the gods?

I think so (he answered).

Soc. And he who knows how he must