Dialogue

 1 Euthyf|        of murder; doing as the gods do—as Zeus did to Cronos,
 2 Euthyf|   Piety is what is dear to the gods, and impiety is what is
 3 Euthyf|   among men, so also among the gods? Especially, about good
 4 Euthyf|       of opinion, either among gods or men, as to the propriety
 5 Euthyf|        murder, or that all the gods are agreed in approving
 6 Euthyf|     and say that ‘what all the gods love is pious, and what
 7 Euthyf|      that which is dear to the gods is dear to the gods because
 8 Euthyf|        the gods is dear to the gods because it is first loved
 9 Euthyf|        or holy is loved by the gods because it is pious or holy,
10 Euthyf| justice which ‘attends’ to the gods, as there is another part
11 Euthyf|  meaning of ‘attending’ to the gods? The word ‘attending,’ when
12 Euthyf|    pious or holy acts make the gods any better? Euthyphro explains
13 Euthyf|       what end do we serve the gods, and what do we help them
14 Euthyf|      knowing how to please the gods in word and deed, by prayers
15 Euthyf|      of doing business between gods and men. But although they
16 Euthyf| conduct by the examples of the gods. These are the very tales
17 Euthyf|     that which is loved of the gods,’ is shipwrecked on a refined
18 Euthyf|        the words ‘loved of the gods’ express an attribute only,
19 Euthyf|   element, ‘attending upon the gods.’ When further interrogated
20 Euthyf|      of this ‘attention to the gods,’ he replies, that piety
21 Euthyf|        the true service of the gods is the service of the spirit
22 Euthyf|        I am a poet or maker of gods, and that I invent new gods
23 Euthyf|    gods, and that I invent new gods and deny the existence of
24 Euthyf|      little they know what the gods think about piety and impiety.~
25 Euthyf|     other offences against the gods. What are they? Is not piety
26 Euthyf|      and most righteous of the gods?—and yet they admit that
27 Euthyf|        way of talking when the gods are concerned, and when
28 Euthyf|        these stories about the gods? and therefore I suppose
29 Euthyf|        really believe that the gods fought with one another,
30 Euthyf|     Are all these tales of the gods true, Euthyphro?~EUTHYPHRO:
31 Euthyf|    many other things about the gods which would quite amaze
32 Euthyf|      that which is dear to the gods, and impiety is that which
33 Euthyf|    person which is dear to the gods is pious, and that thing
34 Euthyf|        which is hateful to the gods is impious, these two being
35 Euthyf|        further, Euthyphro, the gods were admitted to have enmities
36 Euthyf|        And the quarrels of the gods, noble Euthyphro, when they
37 Euthyf|        things are hated by the gods and loved by the gods, and
38 Euthyf|      the gods and loved by the gods, and are both hateful and
39 Euthyf|      that what is loved by the gods is also hated by them. And
40 Euthyf|         and there may be other gods who have similar differences
41 Euthyf|         Socrates, that all the gods would be agreed as to the
42 Euthyf|        True.~SOCRATES: And the gods are in the same case, if
43 Euthyf|    issue about the particulars—gods and men alike; and, if they
44 Euthyf|      in the opinion of all the gods a servant who is guilty
45 Euthyf|        the interpreters of the gods what he ought to do with
46 Euthyf|    would you show that all the gods absolutely agree in approving
47 Euthyf|     unjust, and hateful to the gods.~EUTHYPHRO: Yes indeed,
48 Euthyf|       prove to me that all the gods regarded the death of the
49 Euthyf|   action may be hateful to the gods, still piety and impiety
50 Euthyf|        which is hateful to the gods has been shown to be also
51 Euthyf|      if you like, that all the gods condemn and abominate such
52 Euthyf|       to say that what all the gods hate is impious, and what
53 Euthyf|   should say that what all the gods love is pious and holy,
54 Euthyf|      or holy is beloved by the gods because it is holy, or holy
55 Euthyf|   because it is beloved of the gods.~EUTHYPHRO: I do not understand
56 Euthyf|   definition, loved by all the gods?~EUTHYPHRO: Yes.~SOCRATES:
57 Euthyf|      that which is dear to the gods is loved by them, and is
58 Euthyf|      that which is dear to the gods, Euthyphro, is not holy,
59 Euthyf|      that which is dear to the gods is dear to them because
60 Euthyf|      of being loved by all the gods. But you still refuse to
61 Euthyf|        is, whether dear to the gods or not (for that is a matter
62 Euthyf|   justice which attends to the gods, as there is the other part
63 Euthyf|      sense when applied to the gods as when applied to other
64 Euthyf|        art of attending to the gods?—that would be your meaning,
65 Euthyf|        art of attending to the gods, benefit or improve them?
66 Euthyf|        act you make any of the gods better?~EUTHYPHRO: No, no;
67 Euthyf|       is this attention to the gods which is called piety?~EUTHYPHRO:
68 Euthyf|    sort of ministration to the gods.~EUTHYPHRO: Exactly.~SOCRATES:
69 Euthyf|     art which ministers to the gods: what work does that help
70 Euthyf|       that fair work which the gods do by the help of our ministrations?~
71 Euthyf|        fair things done by the gods, which is the chief or principal
72 Euthyf|     learning how to please the gods in word and deed, by prayers
73 Euthyf|     which is unpleasing to the gods, is their ruin and destruction.~
74 Euthyf|   sacrificing is giving to the gods, and prayer is asking of
75 Euthyf|        prayer is asking of the gods?~EUTHYPHRO: Yes, Socrates.~
76 Euthyf|  nature of this service to the gods? Do you mean that we prefer
77 Euthyf|     Euthyphro, is an art which gods and men have of doing business
78 Euthyf|    what benefit accrues to the gods from our gifts. There is
79 Euthyf|     any benefit accrues to the gods from our gifts?~SOCRATES:
80 Euthyf|       conferred by us upon the gods?~EUTHYPHRO: What else, but
81 Euthyf|       then, is pleasing to the gods, but not beneficial or dear
82 Euthyf|      that piety is dear to the gods?~EUTHYPHRO: Certainly.~SOCRATES:
83 Euthyf|     that which is loved of the gods? Have you forgotten?~EUTHYPHRO:
84 Euthyf|      that what is loved of the gods is holy; and is not this
85 Euthyf|      wrong in the sight of the gods, and you would have had