. Nay, rather the greatest of all ends, God knows.

Soc. Possibly in face of terrors and dangers you would consider it an
advantage to be ignorant of them?

Certainly not (he answered).

Soc. It seems that those who have no fear in face of dangers, simply
because they do not know what they are, are not courageous?

Most true (he answered); or, by the same showing, a large proportion of
madmen and cowards would be courageous.

Soc. Well, and what of those who are in dread of things which are not
dreadful, are they--

Euth. Courageous, Socrates?--still less so than the former, goodness
knows.

Soc. Possibly, then, you would deem those who are good in the face of
terrors and dangers to be courageous, and those who are bad in the face
of the same to be cowards?

Certainly I should (he answered).

Soc. And can you suppose any other people to be good in respect of such
things except those who are able to cope with them and turn them to
noble account? (31)

(31) {kalos khresthai}, lit. "make a beautiful use of them."

No; these and these alone (he answered).

Soc. And those people who are of a kind to cope but badly with the same
occurrences, it would seem, are bad?

Who else, if not they? (he asked).

Soc. May it be that both one and the other class do use these
circumstances as they think they must and should? (32)

(32) Or, "feel bound and constrained to do."

Why, how else should they deal with them? (he asked).

Soc. Can it be said that those who are unable to cope well with them or
to turn them to noble account know how they must and should deal with
them? (33)

(33) Or, "Can it be said that those who are unable to cope nobly with
their perilous surroundings know how they ought to deal with
them?"

I presume not (he answered).

Soc. It would seem to follow that those who have the knowledge how to
behave are also those who have the power? (34)

(34) "He who kens can."

Yes; these, and these alone (he said).

Soc. Well, but now, what of those who have made no egregious blunder (in
the matter); can it be they cope ill with the things and circumstances
we are discussing?

I think not (he answered).

Soc. It would seem, conversely, that they who cope ill have made some
egregious blunder?

Euth. Probably; indeed, it would appear to follow.

Soc. It would seem, then, that those who know (35) how to cope with
terrors and dangers well and nobly are courageous, and those who fail
u