Dialogue

 1  Gorg|    rhetoric? To this there is no answer given, for Gorgias is soon
 2  Gorg|       defence of his master. The answer has at last to be given
 3  Gorg|         adversary has refused to answer any more questions. The
 4  Gorg|      would elicit from a man the answer, ‘I am a cobbler.’~Polus
 5  Gorg|         be tired, and desires to answer for him. ‘Who is Gorgias?’
 6  Gorg|         and unmeaningness of the answer; he tells the disconcerted
 7  Gorg|         a speech, but not how to answer a question. He wishes that
 8  Gorg|        wishes that Gorgias would answer him. Gorgias is willing
 9  Gorg|     Polus shall ask and Socrates answer.~‘What is the art of Rhetoric?’
10  Gorg|       consistency, he will.’ The answer does not satisfy Socrates,
11  Gorg|     suggests that Socrates shall answer his own questions. ‘Then,’
12  Gorg|       really good statesmen, you answer—as if I asked you who were
13  Gorg|         what would have been his answer. There have been a few,
14  Gorg|         of the Gorgias is not to answer questions about a future
15  Gorg|       hardly troubles himself to answer seriously the objections
16  Gorg|       suggested in a figure. The answer depends on another question:
17  Gorg|           Callicles; but will he answer our questions? for I want
18  Gorg|          Socrates; and indeed to answer questions is a part of his
19  Gorg|        to him, and that he would answer.~SOCRATES: How fortunate!
20  Gorg|       been a maker of shoes, the answer that he is a cobbler. Do
21  Gorg|     saying that you undertake to answer any questions which you
22  Gorg|        Polus, think that you can answer better than Gorgias?~POLUS:
23  Gorg|       What does that matter if I answer well enough for you?~CHAEREPHON:
24  Gorg|        Not at all:—and you shall answer if you like.~POLUS: Ask:—~
25  Gorg|           if you are disposed to answer: for I see, from the few
26  Gorg|          indeed, but that was no answer to the question: nobody
27  Gorg|          you continue to ask and answer questions, Gorgias, as we
28  Gorg|       you keep your promise, and answer shortly the questions which
29  Gorg|  SOCRATES: I am glad to hear it; answer me in like manner about
30  Gorg|      soon know better; please to answer me a question:—you would
31  Gorg|          now have the rest of my answer:—seeing that rhetoric is
32  Gorg|          Socrates?’ and I should answer, that astronomy tells us
33  Gorg|       good? ‘Certainly,’ he will answer, ‘for is not health the
34  Gorg|           What good? Let Gorgias answer.’ Now I want you, Gorgias,
35  Gorg|       which you are the creator? Answer us.~GORGIAS: That good,
36  Gorg|        and about what, —we shall answer, persuasion which teaches
37  Gorg|   question, Gorgias, what is the answer?~GORGIAS: I answer, Socrates,
38  Gorg|        is the answer?~GORGIAS: I answer, Socrates, that rhetoric
39  Gorg|         mentioned?’ How will you answer them?~GORGIAS: I like your
40  Gorg| especially as I have promised to answer all comers; in accordance
41  Gorg|         oration, and refusing to answer what you are asked, I am
42  Gorg|         and in your turn ask and answer, like myself and Gorgias—
43  Gorg|         and you will know how to answer him?~POLUS: To be sure.~
44  Gorg|        which will you do, ask or answer?~POLUS: I will ask; and
45  Gorg|           I will ask; and do you answer me, Socrates, the same question
46  Gorg|        you suppose, is unable to answer: What is rhetoric?~SOCRATES:
47  Gorg|  discourteous; and I hesitate to answer, lest Gorgias should imagine
48  Gorg|          but I shall be happy to answer, if you will ask me, What
49  Gorg|     POLUS: I will ask and do you answer? What part of flattery is
50  Gorg|           Will you understand my answer? Rhetoric, according to
51  Gorg|        say, if I am compelled to answer, for I call what is bad
52  Gorg|          could make no use of my answer when I spoke shortly, and
53  Gorg|          what you please with my answer.~POLUS: What do you mean?
54  Gorg|      question.~SOCRATES: Then my answer is, that they are not regarded
55  Gorg|     questions in one, and I will answer both of them. And I tell
56  Gorg|          am in error or give the answer yourself.~POLUS: Very well,
57  Gorg|       Very well, I am willing to answer that I may know what you
58  Gorg|          is evil? Why do you not answer?~POLUS: Well, I suppose
59  Gorg|        Socrates, that you should answer as well as ask that question.~
60  Gorg|        you would rather have the answer from me, I say that they
61  Gorg|        ask then whether you will answer in turn and have your words
62  Gorg|           SOCRATES: But will you answer?~POLUS: To be sure, I will;
63  Gorg|         is the greater disgrace?—Answer.~POLUS: To do.~SOCRATES:
64  Gorg|         dishonour to a less one? Answer, Polus, and fear not; for
65  Gorg|           If you are not able to answer at once, ask yourself whither
66  Gorg|   Socrates, there can be but one answer.~SOCRATES: Then rhetoric
67  Gorg|    injustice?—is that so or not? Answer, Callicles, and let no modesty
68  Gorg|       thus?—I must beg of you to answer, in order that if you agree
69  Gorg|         the wiser is the better? Answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’~CALLICLES:
70  Gorg|        are a brave man. And now, answer my question.~CALLICLES:
71  Gorg|        my question.~CALLICLES: I answer, that even the scratcher
72  Gorg|          we agree? Please not to answer without consideration.~CALLICLES:
73  Gorg|         GORGIAS: Nay, Callicles, answer, if only for our sakes;—
74  Gorg|     particular, if you will only answer.~CALLICLES: Yes, I have.~
75  Gorg|         jesting with you; do not answer at random and contrary to
76  Gorg|           let me ask, and do you answer, which of them belong to
77  Gorg|        not, you shall refute and answer me. ‘Healthy,’ as I conceive,
78  Gorg| temperate soul is good? No other answer can I give, Callicles dear;
79  Gorg|       the height of disgrace. My answer to you is one which has
80  Gorg| questions of you, what would you answer? Whom would you say that
81  Gorg|         public. Why will you not answer?~CALLICLES: You are contentious,
82  Gorg|          so; for if you will not answer for yourself I must answer
83  Gorg|       answer for yourself I must answer for you. But if this is
84  Gorg| mob-orator, because you will not answer.~CALLICLES: And you are
85  Gorg|      unless there is some one to answer?~SOCRATES: I suppose that
86  Gorg|     enough because you refuse to answer me. But I adjure you by
87  Gorg|     shall have to repeat the old answer, that he will be a bad man