the memorabilia(纪念品)-第42节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Euth。 No； nor ignorance of any of these： rather the reverse； for the
majority of those who do know just these matters are 〃little better than
151
… Page 152…
The Memorabilia
slaves。〃
Soc。 You mean it is a title particularly to those who are ignorant of the
beautiful； the good； the just？＇40＇
＇40＇ Cf。 Goethe's 〃Im Ganzen Guten Schonen resolut zu leben。〃
It is； in my opinion （he replied）。
Soc。 Then we must in every way strain every nerve to avoid the
imputation of being slaves？
Euth。 Nay； Socrates； by all that is holy； I did flatter myself that at any
rate I was a student of philosophy； and on the right road to be taught
everything essential to one who would fain make beauty and goodness his
pursuit。＇41＇ So that now you may well imagine my despair when； for all
my pains expended； I cannot even answer the questions put to me about
what most of all a man should know； and there is no path of progress open
to me； no avenue of improvement left。
＇41＇ ｛tes kalokagathias｝； the virtue of the ｛kalos te kagathos｝
nobility of soul。 Cf。 above； I。 vi。 14。
Thereupon Socrates： Tell me； Euthydemus； have you ever been to
Delphi？
Yes； certainly； twice （said he）。
Soc。 And did you notice an inscription somewhere on the temple：
｛GNOMI SEAUTON｝KNOW THYSELF？
Euth。 I did。
Soc。 Did you； possibly； pay no regard to the inscription？ or did you
give it heed and try to discover who and what you were？
I can safely say I did not （he answered）。 That much I made quite sure I
knew； at any rate； since if I did not know even myself； what in the world
did I know？
Soc。 Can a man be said； do you think； to know himself who knows his
own name and nothing more？ or must he not rather set to work precisely
like the would…be purchaser of a horse； who certainly does not think that
he has got the knowledge he requires until he has discovered whether the
beast is tractable or stubborn； strong or weak； quick or slow； and how it
stands with the other points； serviceable or the reverse； in reference to the
152
… Page 153…
The Memorabilia
use and purpose of a horse？ So； I say； must a man in like manner
interrogate his own nature in reference to a man's requirements； and learn
to know his own capacities； must he not？
Euth。 Yes； so it strikes me： he who knows not his own ability knows
not himself。
Soc。 And this too is plain； is it not： that through self…knowledge men
meet with countless blessings； and through ignorance of themselves with
many evils？ Because； the man who knows himself knows what is
advantageous to himself； he discerns the limits of his powers； and by
doing what he knows； he provides himself with what he needs and so does
well； or； conversely； by holding aloof from what he knows not； he avoids
mistakes and thereby mishaps。 And having now a test to gauge other
human beings he uses their need as a stepping…stone to provide himself
with good and to avoid evil。 Whereas he who does not know himself； but
is mistaken as to his own capacity； is in like predicament to the rest of
mankind and all human matters else； he neither knows what he wants； nor
what he is doing； nor the people whom he deals with； and being all abroad
in these respects； he misses what is good and becomes involved in what is
ill。
Again； he that knows what he is doing through the success of his
performance attains to fame and honour； his peers and co…mates are glad
to make use of him； whilst his less successful neighbours； failing in their
affairs； are anxious to secure his advice； his guidance； his protection；＇42＇
they place their hopes of happiness in him； and for all these causes＇43＇
single him out as the chief object of their affection。 He； on the contrary；
who knows not what he does； who chooses amiss and fails in what he puts
his hands to； not only incurs loss and suffers chastisement through his
blunders； but step by step loses reputation and becomes a laughing…stock；
and in the end is doomed to a life of dishonour and contempt。
＇42＇ Cf。 Dante； 〃Tu duca； tu maestro； tu signore。〃
＇43＇ Reading； ｛dia panta tauta｝； or if ｛dia tauta｝； translate 〃and
therefore。〃
What is true of individuals is true also of communities。＇44＇ That state
153
… Page 154…
The Memorabilia
which in ignorance of its power goes to war with a stronger than itself
ends by being uprooted or else reduced to slavery。
＇44＇ Or； more lit。 〃A law which applies； you will observe； to bodies
politic。〃
Thereupon Euthydemus： Be assured I fully concur in your opinion； the
precept KNOW THYSELF cannot be too highly valued； but what is the
application？ What the starting…point of self…examination？ I look to you for
an explanation； if you would kindly give one。＇45＇
＇45＇ Or； 〃at what point to commence the process of self…inspection？
there is the mystery。 I look to you； if you are willing； to interpret it。〃
Well （replied Socrates）； I presume you know quite well the distinction
between good and bad things： your knowledge may be relied upon so far？
Why； yes； to be sure （replied the youth）； for without that much
discernment I should indeed be worse than any slave。＇46＇
＇46＇ Lit。 〃if I did not know even that。〃
Come then （said he）； do you give me an explanation of the things so
termed。
That is fortunately not hard （replied the youth）。 First of all； health in
itself I hold to be a good； and disease in itself an evil； and in the next place
the sources of either of those aforenamed； meats and drinks； and habits of
life；＇47＇ I regard as good or evil according as they contribute either to
health or to disease。
＇47＇ Or； 〃pursuits and occupations〃； 〃manners and customs。〃
Soc。 Then health and disease themselves when they prove to be
soruces of any good are good； but when of any evil； evil？
And when （asked he）； can health be a source of evil； or disease a
source of good？
Why； bless me！ often enough （replied Socrates）。 In the event； for
instance； of some ill…starred expedition or of some disastrous voyage or
other incident of the sort； of which veritably there are enough to spare
when those who owing to their health and strength take a part in the affair
are lost； whilst those who were left behindas hors de combat； on account
of ill…health of other feeblenessare saved。
154
… Page 155…
The Memorabilia
Euth。 Yes； you are right； but you will admit that there are advantages
to be got from strength and lost through weakness。
Soc。 Even so； but ought we to regard those things which at one
moment benefit and at another moment injure us in any strict sense good
rather than evil？
Euth。 No； certainly not； according to that line of argument。 But
wisdom；＇48＇ Socrates； you must on your side admit； is irrefragably a good；
since there is nothing which or in which a wise man would not do better
than a fool。
＇48＇ See above； III。 ix。 5。 Here ｛sophia｝ is not = ｛sophrosune｝。
Soc。 What say you？ Have you never heard of Daedalus；＇49＇ how he
was seized by Minos on account of his wisdom； and forced to be his slave；
and robbed of fatherland and freedom at one swoop？ and how； while
endeavouring to make his escape with his son； he caused the boy's death
without effecting his own salvation； but was carried off among barbarians
and again enslaved？
＇49＇ See Ovid。 〃Met。〃 viii。 159 foll。； 261 foll。； Hygin。 〃Fab。〃 39；
40； Diod。 Sic。 iv。 79； Paus。 vii。 4。 6。
Yes； I know the old story （he answered）。＇50＇
＇50＇ Or； 〃Ah yes； of course； the tale is current。〃
Soc。 Or have you not heard of the 〃woes of Palamedes；〃＇51＇ that
commonest theme of son
