byPlatotranslatedbyBenjaminJowettMENO
PERSONSOFTHEDIALOGUEMENO；SOCRATES；ASLAVEOFMENO；
ANYTUS
Meno。Canyoutellme，Socrates，whethervirtueisacquiredbyteachingorbypractice；orifneitherbyteachingnorpractice，thenwhetheritcomestomanbynature，orinwhatotherway？
Socrates。OMeno，therewasatimewhentheThessalianswerefamousamongtheotherHellenesonlyfortheirrichesandtheirriding；butnow，ifIamnotmistaken，theyareequallyfamousfortheirwisdom，especiallyatLarisa，whichisthenativecityofyourfriendAristippus。AndthisisGorgias’doing；forwhenhecamethere，thefloweroftheAleuadae，amongthemyouradmirerAristippus，andtheotherchiefsoftheThessalians，fellinlovewithhiswisdom。Andhehastaughtyouthehabitofansweringquestionsinagrandandboldstyle，whichbecomesthosewhoknow，andisthestyleinwhichhehimselfanswersallcomers；andanyHellenewholikesmayaskhimanything。Howdifferentisourlot！mydearMeno。HereatAthensthereisadearthofthecommodity，andallwisdomseemstohaveemigratedfromustoyou。IamcertainthatifyouweretoaskanyAthenianwhethervirtuewasnaturaloracquired，hewouldlaughinyourface，andsay：\"Stranger，youhavefartoogoodanopinionofme，ifyouthinkthatIcanansweryourquestion。ForIliterallydonotknowwhatvirtueis，andmuchlesswhetheritisacquiredbyteachingornot。\"AndImyself，Meno，livingasIdointhisregionofpoverty，amaspoorastherestoftheworld；andIconfesswithshamethatIknowliterallynothingaboutvirtue；andwhenIdonotknowthe\"quid\"ofanythinghowcanIknowthe\"quale\"？How，ifIknewnothingatallofMeno，couldItellifhewasfair，ortheoppositeoffair；richandnoble，orthereverseofrichandnoble？DoyouthinkthatI
could？
Men。No，Indeed。Butareyouinearnest，Socrates，insayingthatyoudonotknowwhatvirtueis？AndamItocarrybackthisreportofyoutoThessaly？
Soc。Notonlythat，mydearboy，butyoumaysayfurtherthatIhaveneverknownofanyoneelsewhodid，inmyjudgment。
Men。ThenyouhavenevermetGorgiaswhenhewasatAthens？
Soc。Yes，Ihave。
Men。Anddidyounotthinkthatheknew？
Soc。Ihavenotagoodmemory，Meno，andthereforeIcannotnowtellwhatIthoughtofhimatthetime。AndIdaresaythathedidknow，andthatyouknowwhathesaid：please，therefore，toremindmeofwhathesaid；or，ifyouwouldrather，tellmeyourownview；forI
suspectthatyouandhethinkmuchalike。
Men。Verytrue。
Soc。Thenasheisnothere，nevermindhim，anddoyoutellme：
Bythegods，Meno，begenerous，andtellmewhatyousaythatvirtueis；forIshallbetrulydelightedtofindthatIhavebeenmistaken，andthatyouandGorgiasdoreallyhavethisknowledge；
althoughIhavebeenjustsayingthatIhaveneverfoundanybodywhohad。
Men。Therewillbenodifficulty，Socrates，inansweringyourquestion。Letustakefirstthevirtueofaman—heshouldknowhowtoadministerthestate，andintheadministrationofittobenefithisfriendsandharmhisenemies；andhemustalsobecarefulnottosufferharmhimself。Awoman’svirtue，ifyouwishtoknowaboutthat，mayalsobeeasilydescribed：herdutyistoorderherhouse，andkeepwhatisindoors，andobeyherhusband。Everyage，everyconditionoflife，youngorold，maleorfemale，bondorfree，hasadifferentvirtue：therearevirtuesnumberless，andnolackofdefinitionsofthem；forvirtueisrelativetotheactionsandagesofeachofusinallthatwedo。Andthesamemaybesaidofvice，Socrates。
Soc。HowfortunateIam，Meno！WhenIaskyouforonevirtue，youpresentmewithaswarmofthem，whichareinyourkeeping。SupposethatIcarryonthefigureoftheswarm，andaskofyou，Whatisthenatureofthebee？andyouanswerthattherearemanykindsofbees，andIreply：Butdobeesdifferasbees，becausetherearemanyanddifferentkindsofthem；oraretheynotrathertobedistinguishedbysomeotherquality，asforexamplebeauty，size，orshape？Howwouldyouanswerme？
Men。Ishouldanswerthatbeesdonotdifferfromoneanother，asbees。
Soc。AndifIwentontosay：ThatiswhatIdesiretoknow，Meno；
tellmewhatisthequalityinwhichtheydonotdiffer，butareallalike；—wouldyoubeabletoanswer？
Men。Ishould。
Soc。Andsoofthevirtues，howevermanyanddifferenttheymaybe，theyhaveallacommonnaturewhichmakesthemvirtues；andonthishewhowouldanswerthequestion，\"Whatisvirtue？\"woulddowelltohavehiseyefixed：Doyouunderstand？
Men。Iambeginningtounderstand；butIdonotasyettakeholdofthequestionasIcouldwish。
Soc。Whenyousay，Meno，thatthereisonevirtueofaman，anotherofawoman，anotherofachild，andsoon，doesthisapplyonlytovirtue，orwouldyousaythesameofhealth，andsize，andstrength？Oristhenatureofhealthalwaysthesame，whetherinmanorwoman？
Men。Ishouldsaythathealthisthesame，bothinmanandwoman。
Soc。Andisnotthistrueofsizeandstrength？Ifawomanisstrong，shewillbestrongbyreasonofthesameformandofthesamestrengthsubsistinginherwhichthereisintheman。Imeantosaythatstrength，asstrength，whetherofmanorwoman，isthesame。Isthereanydifference？
Men。Ithinknot。
Soc。Andwillnotvirtue，asvirtue，bethesame，whetherinachildorinagrown—upperson，inawomanorinaman？
Men。Icannothelpfeeling，Socrates，thatthiscaseisdifferentfromtheothers。
Soc。Butwhy？Wereyounotsayingthatthevirtueofamanwastoorderastate，andthevirtueofawomanwastoorderahouse？
Men。Ididsayso。
Soc。Andcaneitherhouseorstateoranythingbewellorderedwithouttemperanceandwithoutjustice？
Men。Certainlynot。
Soc。Thentheywhoorderastateorahousetemperatelyorjustlyorderthemwithtemperanceandjustice？
Men。Certainly。
Soc。Thenbothmenandwomen，iftheyaretobegoodmenandwomen，musthavethesamevirtuesoftemperanceandjustice？
Men。True。
Soc。Andcaneitherayoungmanoranelderonebegood，iftheyareintemperateandunjust？
Men。Theycannot。
Soc。Theymustbetemperateandjust？
Men。Yes。
Soc。Thenallmenaregoodinthesameway，andbyparticipationinthesamevirtues？
Men。Suchistheinference。
Soc。Andtheysurelywouldnothavebeengoodinthesameway，unlesstheirvirtuehadbeenthesame？
Men。Theywouldnot。
Soc。Thennowthatthesamenessofallvirtuehasbeenproven，tryandrememberwhatyouandGorgiassaythatvirtueis。
Men。Willyouhaveonedefinitionofthemall？
Soc。ThatiswhatIamseeking。
Men。Ifyouwanttohaveonedefinitionofthemall，Iknownotwhattosay，butthatvirtueisthepowerofgoverningmankind。
Soc。Anddoesthisdefinitionofvirtueincludeallvirtue？Isvirtuethesameinachildandinaslave，Meno？Canthechildgovernhisfather，ortheslavehismaster；andwouldhewhogovernedbeanylongeraslave？
Men。Ithinknot，Socrates。
Soc。No，indeed；therewouldbesmallreasoninthat。Yetoncemore，fairfriend；accordingtoyou，virtueis\"thepowerofgoverning\"；butdoyounotadd\"justlyandnotunjustly\"？
Men。Yes，Socrates；Iagreethere；forjusticeisvirtue。
Soc。Wouldyousay\"virtue，\"Meno，or\"avirtue\"？
Men。Whatdoyoumean？
Soc。ImeanasImightsayaboutanything；thataround，forexample，is\"afigure\"andnotsimply\"figure，\"andIshouldadoptthismodeofspeaking，becausethereareotherfigures。
Men。Quiteright；andthatisjustwhatIamsayingaboutvirtue—thatthereareothervirtuesaswellasjustice。
Soc。Whatarethey？tellmethenamesofthem，asIwouldtellyouthenamesoftheotherfiguresifyouaskedme。
Men。Courageandtemperanceandwisdomandmagnanimityarevirtues；andtherearemanyothers。
Soc。Yes，Meno；andagainweareinthesamecase：insearchingafteronevirtuewehavefoundmany，thoughnotinthesamewayasbefore；butwehavebeenunabletofindthecommonvirtuewhichrunsthroughthemall。
Men。Why，Socrates，evennowIamnotabletofollowyouintheattempttogetatonecommonnotionofvirtueasofotherthings。
Soc。Nowonder；butIwilltrytogetnearerifIcan，foryouknowthatallthingshaveacommonnotion。SupposenowthatsomeoneaskedyouthequestionwhichIaskedbefore：Meno，hewouldsay，whatisfigure？Andifyouanswered\"roundness，\"hewouldreplytoyou，inmywayofspeaking，byaskingwhetheryouwouldsaythatroundnessis\"figure\"or\"afigure\"；andyouwouldanswer\"afigure。\"
Men。Certainly。
Soc。Andforthisreason—thatthereareotherfigures？
Men。Yes。
Soc。Andifheproceededtoask，Whatotherfiguresarethere？youwouldhavetoldhim。
Men。Ishould。
Soc。Andifhesimilarlyaskedwhatcolouris，andyouansweredwhiteness，andthequestionerrejoined，Wouldyousaythatwhitenessiscolouroracolour？youwouldreply，Acolour，becausethereareothercoloursaswell。
Men。Ishould。
Soc。Andifhehadsaid，Tellmewhattheyare？—youwouldhavetoldhimofothercolourswhicharecoloursjustasmuchaswhiteness。
Men。Yes。
Soc。Andsupposethatheweretopursuethematterinmyway，hewouldsay：Everandanonwearelandedinparticulars，butthisisnotwhatIwant；tellmethen，sinceyoucallthembyacommonname，andsaythattheyareallfigures，evenwhenopposedtooneanother，whatisthatcommonnaturewhichyoudesignateasfigure—whichcontainsstraightaswellasround，andisnomoreonethantheother—thatwouldbeyourmodeofspeaking？
Men。Yes。
Soc。Andinspeakingthus，youdonotmeantosaythattheroundisroundanymorethanstraight，orthestraightanymorestraightthanround？
Men。Certainlynot。
Soc。Youonlyassertthattheroundfigureisnotmoreafigurethanthestraight，orthestraightthantheround？
Men。Verytrue。
Soc。Towhatthendowegivethenameoffigure？Tryandanswer。
Supposethatwhenapersonaskedyouthisquestioneitheraboutfigureorcolour，youweretoreply，Man，Idonotunderstandwhatyouwant，orknowwhatyouaresaying；hewouldlookratherastonishedandsay：DoyounotunderstandthatIamlookingforthe\"simileinmultis\"？Andthenhemightputthequestioninanotherform：Mono，hemightsay，whatisthat\"simileinmultis\"whichyoucallfigure，andwhichincludesnotonlyroundandstraightfigures，butall？Couldyounotanswerthatquestion，Meno？Iwishthatyouwouldtry；theattemptwillbegoodpracticewithaviewtotheansweraboutvirtue。
Men。Iwouldratherthatyoushouldanswer，Socrates。
Soc。ShallIindulgeyou？
Men。Byallmeans。
Soc。Andthenyouwilltellmeaboutvirtue？
Men。Iwill。
Soc。ThenImustdomybest，forthereisaprizetobewon。
Men。Certainly。
Soc。Well，Iwilltryandexplaintoyouwhatfigureis。Whatdoyousaytothisanswer？—Figureistheonlythingwhichalwaysfollowscolour。Willyoubesatisfiedwithit，asIamsurethatIshouldbe，ifyouwouldletmehaveasimilardefinitionofvirtue？
Men。But，Socrates，itissuchasimpleanswer。
Soc。Whysimple？
Men。Because，accordingtoyou，figureisthatwhichalwaysfollowscolour。
（Soc。Granted。）
Men。Butifapersonweretosaythathedoesnotknowwhatcolouris，anymorethanwhatfigureis—whatsortofanswerwouldyouhavegivenhim？
Soc。Ishouldhavetoldhimthetruth。Andifhewereaphilosopheroftheeristicandantagonisticsort，Ishouldsaytohim：
Youhavemyanswer，andifIamwrong，yourbusinessistotakeuptheargumentandrefuteme。Butifwewerefriends，andweretalkingasyouandIarenow，Ishouldreplyinamilderstrainandmoreinthedialectician’svein；thatistosay，Ishouldnotonlyspeakthetruth，butIshouldmakeuseofpremisseswhichthepersoninterrogatedwouldbewillingtoadmit。AndthisisthewayinwhichI
shallendeavourtoapproachyou。Youwillacknowledge，willyounot，thatthereissuchathingasanend，ortermination，orextremity？—allwhichwordsuseinthesamesense，althoughIamawarethatProdicusmightdrawdistinctionsaboutthem：butstillyou，Iamsure，wouldspeakofathingasendedorterminated—thatisallwhichIamsaying—notanythingverydifficult。
Men。Yes，Ishould；andIbelievethatIunderstandyourmeaning。
Soc。Andyouwouldspeakofasurfaceandalsoofasolid，asforexampleingeometry。
Men。Yes。
Soc。Wellthen，youarenowinaconditiontounderstandmydefinitionoffigure。Idefinefiguretobethatinwhichthesolidends；or，moreconcisely，thelimitofsolid。
Men。Andnow，Socrates，whatiscolour？
Soc。Youareoutrageous，Meno，inthusplaguingapooroldmantogiveyouananswer，whenyouwillnottakethetroubleofrememberingwhatisGorgias’definitionofvirtue。
Men。WhenyouhavetoldmewhatIask，Iwilltellyou，Socrates。
Soc。Amanwhowasblindfoldedhasonlytohearyoutalking，andhewouldknowthatyouareafaircreatureandhavestillmanylovers。
Men。Whydoyouthinkso？
Soc。Why，becauseyoualwaysspeakinimperatives：likeallbeautieswhentheyareintheirprime，youaretyrannical；andalso，asI
suspect，youhavefoundoutthatIhaveweaknessforthefair，andthereforetohumouryouImustanswer。
Men。Pleasedo。
Soc。WouldyoulikemetoansweryouafterthemannerofGorgias，whichisfamiliartoyou？
Men。Ishouldlikenothingbetter。
Soc。DonotheandyouandEmpedoclessaythattherearecertaineffluencesofexistence？
Men。Certainly。
Soc。Andpassagesintowhichandthroughwhichtheeffluencespass？
Men。Exactly。
Soc。Andsomeoftheeffluencesfitintothepassages，andsomeofthemaretoosmallortoolarge？
Men。True。
Soc。Andthereissuchathingassight？
Men。Yes。
Soc。Andnow，asPindarsays，\"readmymeaning\"colourisaneffluenceofform，commensuratewithsight，andpalpabletosense。
Men。That，Socrates，appearstometobeanadmirableanswer。
Soc。Why，yes，becauseithappenstobeonewhichyouhavebeeninthehabitofhearing：andyourwitwillhavediscovered，Isuspect，thatyoumayexplaininthesamewaythenatureofsoundandsmell，andofmanyothersimilarphenomena。
Men。Quitetrue。
Soc。Theanswer，Meno，wasintheorthodoxsolemnvein，andthereforewasmoreacceptabletoyouthantheotheransweraboutfigure。
Men。Yes。
Soc。Andyet，OsonofAlexidemus，Icannothelpthinkingthattheotherwasthebetter；andIamsurethatyouwouldbeofthesameopinion，ifyouwouldonlystayandbeinitiated，andwerenotcompelled，asyousaidyesterday，togoawaybeforethemysteries。
Men。ButIwillstay，Socrates，ifyouwillgivememanysuchanswers。
Soc。Wellthen，formyownsakeaswellasforyours，Iwilldomyverybest；butIamafraidthatIshallnotbeabletogiveyouverymanyasgood：andnow，inyourturn，youaretofulfilyourpromise，andtellmewhatvirtueisintheuniversal；anddonotmakeasingularintoaplural，asthefacetioussayofthosewhobreakathing，butdelivervirtuetomewholeandsound，andnotbrokenintoanumberofpieces：Ihavegivenyouthepattern。
Men。Wellthen，Socrates，virtue，asItakeit，iswhenhe，whodesiresthehonourable，isabletoprovideitforhimself；sothepoetsays，andIsaytoo—
Virtueisthedesireofthingshonourableandthepowerofattainingthem。
Soc。Anddoeshewhodesiresthehonourablealsodesirethegood？
Men。Certainly。
Soc。Thenaretheresomewhodesiretheevilandotherswhodesirethegood？Donotallmen，mydearsir，desiregood？
Men。Ithinknot。
Soc。Therearesomewhodesireevil？
Men。Yes。
Soc。Doyoumeanthattheythinktheevilswhichtheydesire，tobegood；ordotheyknowthattheyareevilandyetdesirethem？
Men。Both，Ithink。
Soc。Anddoyoureallyimagine，Meno，thatamanknowsevilstobeevilsanddesiresthemnotwithstanding？
Men。CertainlyIdo。
Soc。Anddesireisofpossession？
Men。Yes，ofpossession。
Soc。Anddoeshethinkthattheevilswilldogoodtohimwhopossessesthem，ordoesheknowthattheywilldohimharm？
Men。Therearesomewhothinkthattheevilswilldothemgood，andotherswhoknowthattheywilldothemharm。
Soc。And，inyouropinion，dothosewhothinkthattheywilldothemgoodknowthattheyareevils？
Men。Certainlynot。
Soc。Isitnotobviousthatthosewhoareignorantoftheirnaturedonotdesirethem；buttheydesirewhattheysupposetobegoodsalthoughtheyarereallyevils；andiftheyaremistakenandsupposetheevilstobegoodtheyreallydesiregoods？
Men。Yes，inthatcase。
Soc。Well，anddothosewho，asyousay，desireevils，andthinkthatevilsarehurtfultothepossessorofthem，knowthattheywillbehurtbythem？
Men。Theymustknowit。
Soc。Andmusttheynotsupposethatthosewhoarehurtaremiserableinproportiontothehurtwhichisinflicteduponthem？
Men。Howcanitbeotherwise？
Soc。Butarenotthemiserableill—fated？
Men。Yes，indeed。
Soc。Anddoesanyonedesiretobemiserableandill—fated？
Men。Ishouldsaynot，Socrates。
Soc。Butifthereisnoonewhodesirestobemiserable，thereisnoone，Meno，whodesiresevil；forwhatismiserybutthedesireandpossessionofevil？
Men。Thatappearstobethetruth，Socrates，andIadmitthatnobodydesiresevil。
Soc。Andyet，wereyounotsayingjustnowthatvirtueisthedesireandpowerofattaininggood？
Men。Yes，Ididsayso。
Soc。Butifthisbeaffirmed，thenthedesireofgoodiscommontoall，andonemanisnobetterthananotherinthatrespect？
Men。True。
Soc。Andifonemanisnotbetterthananotherindesiringgood，hemustbebetterinthepowerofattainingit？
Men。Exactly。
Soc。Then，accordingtoyourdefinition，virtuewouldappeartobethepowerofattaininggood？
Men。Ientirelyapprove，Socrates，ofthemannerinwhichyounowviewthismatter。
Soc。Thenletusseewhetherwhatyousayistruefromanotherpointofview；forverylikelyyoumayberight：—Youaffirmvirtuetobethepowerofattaininggoods？
Men。Yes。
Soc。Andthegoodswhichmeanaresuchashealthandwealthandthepossessionofgoldandsilver，andhavingofficeandhonourinthestate—thosearewhatyouwouldcallgoods？
Men。Yes，Ishouldincludeallthose。
Soc。Then，accordingtoMeno，whoisthehereditaryfriendofthegreatking，virtueisthepowerofgettingsilverandgold；andwouldyouaddthattheymustbegainedpiously，justly，ordoyoudeemthistobeofnoconsequence？Andisanymodeofacquisition，evenifunjustanddishonest，equallytobedeemedvirtue？
Men。Notvirtue，Socrates，butvice。
Soc。Thenjusticeortemperanceorholiness，orsomeotherpartofvirtue，aswouldappear，mustaccompanytheacquisition，andwithoutthemthemereacquisitionofgoodwillnotbevirtue。
Men。Why，howcantherebevirtuewithoutthese？
Soc。Andthenon—acquisitionofgoldandsilverinadishonestmannerforoneselforanother，orinotherwordsthewantofthem，maybeequallyvirtue？
Men。True。
Soc。Thentheacquisitionofsuchgoodsisnomorevirtuethanthenon—acquisitionandwantofthem，butwhateverisaccompaniedbyjusticeorhonestyisvirtue，andwhateverisdevoidofjusticeisvice。
Men。Itcannotbeotherwise，inmyjudgment。
Soc。Andwerewenotsayingjustnowthatjustice，temperance，andthelike，wereeachofthemapartofvirtue？
Men。Yes。
Soc。Andso，Meno，thisisthewayinwhichyoumockme。
Men。Whydoyousaythat，Socrates？
Soc。Why，becauseIaskedyoutodelivervirtueintomyhandswholeandunbroken，andIgaveyouapatternaccordingtowhichyouweretoframeyouranswer；andyouhaveforgottenalready，andtellmethatvirtueisthepowerofattaininggoodjustly，orwithjustice；
andjusticeyouacknowledgetobeapartofvirtue。
Men。Yes。
Soc。Thenitfollowsfromyourownadmissions，thatvirtueisdoingwhatyoudowithapartofvirtue；forjusticeandthelikearesaidbyyoutobepartsofvirtue。
Men。Whatofthat？
Soc。Whatofthat！Why，didnotIaskyoutotellmethenatureofvirtueasawhole？Andyouareveryfarfromtellingmethis；butdeclareeveryactiontobevirtuewhichisdonewithapartofvirtue；
asthoughyouhadtoldmeandImustalreadyknowthewholeofvirtue，andthistoowhenfritteredawayintolittlepieces。And，therefore，mydearIfearthatImustbeginagainandrepeatthesamequestion：
Whatisvirtue？forotherwise，Icanonlysay，thateveryactiondonewithapartofvirtueisvirtue；whatelseisthemeaningofsayingthateveryactiondonewithjusticeisvirtue？OughtInottoaskthequestionoveragain；forcananyonewhodoesnotknowvirtueknowapartofvirtue？
Men。No；Idonotsaythathecan。
Soc。Doyourememberhow，intheexampleoffigure，werejectedanyanswergivenintermswhichwereasyetunexplainedorunadmitted？
Men。Yes，Socrates；andwewerequiterightindoingso。
Soc。Butthen，myfriend，donotsupposethatwecanexplaintoanyonethenatureofvirtueasawholethroughsomeunexplainedportionofvirtue，oranythingatallinthatfashion；weshouldonlyhavetoaskoveragaintheoldquestion，Whatisvirtue？AmInotright？
Men。Ibelievethatyouare。
Soc。Thenbeginagain，andanswerme，What，accordingtoyouandyourfriendGorgias，isthedefinitionofvirtue？
Men。OSocrates，Iusedtobetold，beforeIknewyou，thatyouwerealwaysdoubtingyourselfandmakingothersdoubt；andnowyouarecastingyourspellsoverme，andIamsimplygettingbewitchedandenchanted，andamatmywits’end。AndifImayventuretomakeajestuponyou，youseemtomebothinyourappearanceandinyourpoweroverotherstobeveryliketheflattorpedofish，whotorpifiesthosewhocomenearhimandtouchhim，asyouhavenowtorpifiedme，I
think。Formysoulandmytonguearereallytorpid，andIdonotknowhowtoansweryou；andthoughIhavebeendeliveredofaninfinitevarietyofspeechesaboutvirtuebeforenow，andtomanypersons—andverygoodonestheywere，asIthought—atthismomentI
cannotevensaywhatvirtueis。AndIthinkthat。youareverywiseinnotvoyagingandgoingawayfromhome，forifyoudidinotherplacesasdoinAthens，youwouldbecastintoprisonasamagician。
Soc。Youarearogue，Meno，andhadallbutcaughtme。
Men。Whatdoyoumean，Socrates？
Soc。Icantellwhyyoumadeasimileaboutme。
Men。Why？
Soc。InorderthatImightmakeanothersimileaboutyou。ForIknowthatallprettyyounggentlemenliketohaveprettysimilesmadeaboutthem—aswelltheymay—butIshallnotreturnthecompliment。Astomybeingatorpedo，ifthetorpedoistorpidaswellasthecauseoftorpidityinothers，thenindeedIamatorpedo，butnototherwise；
forIperplexothers，notbecauseIamclear，butbecauseIamutterlyperplexedmyself。AndnowIknownotwhatvirtueis，andyouseemtobeinthesamecase，althoughyoudidonceperhapsknowbeforeyoutouchedme。However，Ihavenoobjectiontojoinwithyouintheenquiry。
Men。Andhowwillyouenquire，Socrates，intothatwhichyoudonotknow？Whatwillyouputforthasthesubjectofenquiry？Andifyoufindwhatyouwant，howwillyoueverknowthatthisisthethingwhichyoudidnotknow？
Soc。Iknow，Meno，whatyoumean；butjustseewhatatiresomedisputeyouareintroducing。Youarguethatmancannotenquireeitheraboutthatwhichheknows，oraboutthatwhichhedoesnotknow；forifheknows，hehasnoneedtoenquire；andifnot，hecannot；forhedoesnotknowthe，verysubjectaboutwhichheistoenquire。
Men。Well，Socrates，andisnottheargumentsound？
Soc。Ithinknot。
Men。Whynot？
Soc。Iwilltellyouwhy：Ihaveheardfromcertainwisemenandwomenwhospokeofthingsdivinethat—
Men。Whatdidtheysay？
Soc。Theyspokeofaglorioustruth，asIconceive。
Men。Whatwasit？andwhowerethey？
Soc。Someofthemwerepriestsandpriestesses，whohadstudiedhowtheymightbeabletogiveareasonoftheirprofession：there，havebeenpoetsalso，whospokeofthesethingsbyinspiration，likePindar，andmanyotherswhowereinspired。Andtheysay—mark，now，andseewhethertheirwordsaretrue—theysaythatthesoulofmanisimmortal，andatonetimehasanend，whichistermeddying，andatanothertimeisbornagain，butisneverdestroyed。Andthemoralis，thatamanoughttolivealwaysinperfectholiness。\"ForintheninthyearPersephonesendsthesoulsofthosefromwhomshehasreceivedthepenaltyofancientcrimebackagainfrombeneathintothelightofthesunabove，andthesearetheywhobecomenoblekingsandmightymenandgreatinwisdomandarecalledsaintlyheroesinafterages。\"Thesoul，then，asbeingimmortal，andhavingbeenbornagainmanytimes，randhavingseenallthingsthatexist，whetherinthisworldorintheworldbelow，hasknowledgeofthemall；anditisnowonderthatsheshouldbeabletocalltoremembranceallthatsheeverknewaboutvirtue，andabouteverything；forasallnatureisakin，andthesoulhaslearnedallthings；thereisnodifficultyinherelicitingorasmensaylearning，outofasinglerecollection—alltherest，ifamanisstrenuousanddoesnotfaint；forallenquiryandalllearningisbutrecollection。Andthereforeweoughtnottolistentothissophisticalargumentabouttheimpossibilityofenquiry：foritwillmakeusidle；andissweetonlytothesluggard；buttheothersayingwillmakeusactiveandinquisitive。Inthatconfiding，Iwillgladlyenquirewithyouintothenatureofvirtue。
Men。Yes，Socrates；butwhatdoyoumeanbysayingthatwedonotlearn，andthatwhatwecalllearningisonlyaprocessofrecollection？Canyouteachmehowthisis？
Soc。Itoldyou，Meno，justnowthatyouwerearogue，andnowyouaskwhetherIcanteachyou，whenIamsayingthatthereisnoteaching，butonlyrecollection；andthusyouimaginethatyouwillinvolvemeinacontradiction。
Men。Indeed，Socrates，IprotestthatIhadnosuchintention。I
onlyaskedthequestionfromhabit；butifyoucanprovetomethatwhatyousayistrue，Iwishthatyouwould。
Soc。Itwillbenoeasymatter，butIwilltrytopleaseyoutotheutmostofmypower。Supposethatyoucalloneofyournumerousattendants，thatImaydemonstrateonhim。
Men。Certainly。Comehither，boy。
Soc。HeisGreek，andspeaksGreek，doeshenot？
Men。Yes，indeed；hewasborninthehouse。
Soc。AttendnowtothequestionswhichIaskhim，andobservewhetherhelearnsofmeoronlyremembers。
Men。Iwill。
Soc。Tellme，boy，doyouknowthatafigurelikethisisasquare？
Boy。Ido。
Soc。Andyouknowthatasquarefigurehasthesefourlinesequal？
Boy。Certainly。
Soc。AndtheselineswhichIhavedrawnthroughthemiddleofthesquarearealsoequal？
Boy。Yes。
Soc。Asquaremaybeofanysize？
Boy。Certainly。
Soc。Andifonesideofthefigurebeoftwofeet，andtheothersidebeoftwofeet，howmuchwillthewholebe？Letmeexplain：ifinonedirectionthespacewasoftwofeet，andinotherdirectionofonefoot，thewholewouldbeoftwofeettakenonce？
Boy。Yes。
Soc。Butsincethissideisalsooftwofeet，therearetwicetwofeet？
Boy。Thereare。
Soc。Thenthesquareisoftwicetwofeet？
Boy。Yes。
Soc。Andhowmanyaretwicetwofeet？countandtellme。
Boy。Four，Socrates。
Soc。Andmighttherenotbeanothersquaretwiceaslargeasthis，andhavinglikethisthelinesequal？
Boy。Yes。
Soc。Andofhowmanyfeetwillthatbe？
Boy。Ofeightfeet。
Soc。Andnowtryandtellmethelengthofthelinewhichformsthesideofthatdoublesquare：thisistwofeet—whatwillthatbe？
Boy。Clearly，Socrates，itwillbedouble。
Soc。Doyouobserve，Meno，thatIamnotteachingtheboyanything，butonlyaskinghimquestions；andnowhefanciesthatheknowshowlongalineisnecessaryinordertoproduceafigureofeightsquarefeet；doeshenot？
Men。Yes。
Soc。Anddoeshereallyknow？
Men。Certainlynot。
Soc。Heonlyguessesthatbecausethesquareisdouble，thelineisdouble。
Men。True。
Soc。Observehimwhileherecallsthestepsinregularorder。（TotheBoy。）Tellme，boy，doyouassertthatadoublespacecomesfromadoubleline？RememberthatIamnotspeakingofanoblong，butofafigureequaleveryway，andtwicethesizeofthis—thatistosayofeightfeet；andIwanttoknowwhetheryoustillsaythatadoublesquarecomesfromdoubleline？
Boy。Yes。
Soc。Butdoesnotthislinebecomedoubledifweaddanothersuchlinehere？
Boy。Certainly。
Soc。Andfoursuchlineswillmakeaspacecontainingeightfeet？
Boy。Yes。
Soc。Letusdescribesuchafigure：Wouldyounotsaythatthisisthefigureofeightfeet？
Boy。Yes。
Soc。Andaretherenotthesefourdivisionsinthefigure，eachofwhichisequaltothefigureoffourfeet？
Boy。True。
Soc。Andisnotthatfourtimesfour？
Boy。Certainly。
Soc。Andfourtimesisnotdouble？
Boy。No，indeed。
Soc。Buthowmuch？
Boy。Fourtimesasmuch。
Soc。Thereforethedoubleline，boy，hasgivenaspace，nottwice，butfourtimesasmuch。
Boy。True。
Soc。Fourtimesfouraresixteen—aretheynot？
Boy。Yes。
Soc。Whatlinewouldgiveyouaspaceofrightfeet，asthisgivesoneofsixteenfeet；—doyousee？
Boy。Yes。
Soc。Andthespaceoffourfeetismadefromthishalfline？
Boy。Yes。
Soc。Good；andisnotaspaceofeightfeettwicethesizeofthis，andhalfthesizeoftheother？
Boy。Certainly。
Soc。Suchaspace，then，willbemadeoutofalinegreaterthanthisone，andlessthanthatone？
Boy。Yes；Ithinkso。
Soc。Verygood；Iliketohearyousaywhatyouthink。Andnowtellme，isnotthisalineoftwofeetandthatoffour？
Boy。Yes。
Soc。Thenthelinewhichformsthesideofeightfeetoughttobemorethanthislineoftwofeet，andlessthantheotheroffourfeet？
Boy。Itought。
Soc。Tryandseeifyoucantellmehowmuchitwillbe。
Boy。Threefeet。
Soc。Thenifweaddahalftothislineoftwo，thatwillbethelineofthree。Herearetwoandthereisone；andontheotherside，herearetwoalsoandthereisone：andthatmakesthefigureofwhichyouspeak？
Boy。Yes。
Soc。Butiftherearethreefeetthiswayandthreefeetthatway，thewholespacewillbethreetimesthreefeet？
Boy。Thatisevident。
Soc。Andhowmucharethreetimesthreefeet？
Boy。Nine。
Soc。Andhowmuchisthedoubleoffour？
Boy。Eight。
Soc。Thenthefigureofeightisnotmadeoutofaofthree？
Boy。No。
Soc。Butfromwhatline？—tellmeexactly；andifyouwouldrathernotreckon，tryandshowmetheline。
Boy。Indeed，Socrates，Idonotknow。
Soc。Doyousee，Meno，whatadvanceshehasmadeinhispowerofrecollection？Hedidnotknowatfirst，andhedoesnotknownow，whatisthesideofafigureofeightfeet：butthenhethoughtthatheknew，andansweredconfidentlyasifheknew，andhadnodifficulty；
nowhehasadifficulty，andneitherknowsnorfanciesthatheknows。
Men。True。
Soc。Ishenotbetteroffinknowinghisignorance？
Men。Ithinkthatheis。
Soc。Ifwehavemadehimdoubt，andgivenhimthe\"torpedo’sshock，\"
havewedonehimanyharm？
Men。Ithinknot。
Soc。Wehavecertainly，aswouldseem，assistedhiminsomedegreetothediscoveryofthetruth；andnowhewillwishtoremedyhisignorance，butthenhewouldhavebeenreadytotellalltheworldagainandagainthatthedoublespaceshouldhaveadoubleside。
Men。True。
Soc。Butdoyousupposethathewouldeverhaveenquiredintoorlearnedwhathefanciedthatheknew，thoughhewasreallyignorantofit，untilhehadfallenintoperplexityundertheideathathedidnotknow，andhaddesiredtoknow？
Men。Ithinknot，Socrates。
Soc。Thenhewasthebetterforthetorpedo’stouch？
Men。Ithinkso。