STRANGER: You want to know what is the meaning of food for the soul; the

other kind you surely understand.

THEAETETUS: Yes.

STRANGER: Take music in general and painting and marionette playing and

many other things, which are purchased in one city, and carried away and

sold in another--wares of the soul which are hawked about either for the

sake of instruction or amusement;--may not he who takes them about and

sells them be quite as truly called a merchant as he who sells meats and

drinks?

THEAETETUS: To be sure he may.

STRANGER: And would you not call by the same name him who buys up

knowledge and goes about from city to city exchanging his wares for

money?

THEAETETUS: Certainly I should.

STRANGER: Of this merchandise of the soul, may not one part be fairly

termed the art of display? And there is another part which is certainly

not less ridiculous, but being a trade in learning must be called by

some name germane to the matter?

THEAETETUS: Certainly.

Sophist