From Wikipedia |
Aristippus asked Socrates whether he knew anything good, so
that if he answered by naming food or drink or money or health or strength or
valour or anything of that sort, he might at once show that it was sometimes an
evil.
Socrates, however, knew very well that if anything troubles us what we
demand is its cure, and he replied in the most pertinent fashion. ‘Are you
asking me,’ he said, ‘if I know anything good for a fever?’
‘Oh, no,’ said the
other.
‘Or for sore eyes?’
‘Not that, either.’
‘Or for hunger?’
‘No, not for
hunger.’
‘Well, then,’ said he, ‘if you ask me whether I know a good that is
good for nothing, I neither know it nor want to know it’
Xenophon - Memorabilia.
2 comments:
Would have been fun in that circle in those days.
James - it would, as long as the hemlock is avoided (:
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