that the question is intended to improve his grammatical knowledge of

that particular word, or of all words?

YOUNG SOCRATES: Clearly, in order that he may have a better knowledge of

all words.

STRANGER: And is our enquiry about the Statesman intended only to

improve our knowledge of politics, or our power of reasoning generally?

YOUNG SOCRATES: Clearly, as in the former example, the purpose is

general.

STRANGER: Still less would any rational man seek to analyse the notion

of weaving for its own sake. But people seem to forget that some things

have sensible images, which are readily known, and can be easily pointed

out when any one desires to answer an enquirer without any trouble or

argument; whereas the greatest and highest truths have no outward image

of themselves visible to man, which he who wishes to satisfy the soul

of the enquirer can adapt to the eye of sense (compare Phaedr.), and

therefore we ought to train ourselves to give and accept a rational

account of them; for immaterial things, which are the noblest and

greatest, are shown only in thought and idea, and in no other way, and

all that we are now saying is said for the sake of them. Moreover, there

is always less difficulty in fixing the mind on small matters than on

great.