STRANGER: That you will promise not to regard me as a parricide.

THEAETETUS: And why?

STRANGER: Because, in self-defence, I must test the philosophy of my

father Parmenides, and try to prove by main force that in a certain

sense not-being is, and that being, on the other hand, is not.

THEAETETUS: Some attempt of the kind is clearly needed.

STRANGER: Yes, a blind man, as they say, might see that, and, unless

these questions are decided in one way or another, no one when he speaks

of false words, or false opinion, or idols, or images, or imitations, or

appearances, or about the arts which are concerned with them; can avoid

falling into ridiculous contradictions.

THEAETETUS: Most true.

STRANGER: And therefore I must venture to lay hands on my father's

argument; for if I am to be over-scrupulous, I shall have to give the

matter up.

THEAETETUS: Nothing in the world should ever induce us to do so.

STRANGER: I have a third little request which I wish to make.

Sophist