be equal to that measure; yet it
has been shown to be incapable of equality.
It has.
Then it will neither partake of one measure, nor of many, nor of few,
nor of the same at all, nor be equal to itself or another; nor be
greater or less than itself, or other?
Certainly.
Well, and do we suppose that one can be older, or younger than anything,
or of the same age with it?
Why not?
Why, because that which is of the same age with itself or other, must
partake of equality or likeness of time; and we said that the one did
not partake either of equality or of likeness?
We did say so.
And we also said, that it did not partake of inequality or unlikeness.
Very true.
How then can one, being of this nature, be either older or younger than
anything, or have the same age with it?
In no way.
Then one cannot be older or younger, or of the same age, either with
itself or with another?
Clearly not.
Then the one, being of this nature, cannot be in time at all; for must
not that which is in time, be always growing older than itself?
Certainly.
And that which is older, must always be older than something which is
younger?
True.
Then, that which becomes older than itself, also becomes at the same
time younger than itself, if it is to have something to become older
than.
What do you mean?
I mean this:--A thing does not need to become different from another
thing which is already different; it IS different, and if its different
has become, it has become different; if its different will be, it will
be different; but of that which is becoming different, there cannot
have been, or be about to be, or yet be, a different--the only different
possible is one which is becoming.
That is inevitable.
But, surely, the elder is a difference relative to the younger, and to
nothing else.
True.
Then that which becomes older than itself must also, at the same time,
become younger than itself?
Yes.
But again, it is true that it cannot become for a longer or for a
shorter time than itself, but it must become, and be, and have become,
and be about to be, for the same time with itself?
That again is inevitable.
Then things which are in time, and partake of time, must in every case,
I suppose, be of the same age with themselves; and must also become at
once older and younger than themselves?
Yes.
But the one did not partake of those affections?
Not at all.
Then it does not partake of
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