Dialogue

 1  Gorg|         he has the power, in the words of Gorgias, of being ‘as
 2  Gorg|        maintain the bad sense of words; and getting confused between
 3  Gorg|      recognizes the truth of his words.~The Socrates of the Gorgias
 4  Gorg|         the arts which deal with words, and the arts which have
 5  Gorg|       arts which have to do with words, or in which words are coextensive
 6  Gorg|          with words, or in which words are coextensive with action,
 7  Gorg|         which are concerned with words there are differences. What
 8  Gorg|       arts which have to do with words? ‘The words which rhetoric
 9  Gorg|      have to do with words? ‘The words which rhetoric uses relate
10  Gorg|      next, wealth third,’ in the words of the old song, or how
11  Gorg|     being allowed to use as many words as he pleases in the free
12  Gorg|      will you continue splitting words? Have I not told you that
13  Gorg|        which he conforms all his words and actions; he desires
14  Gorg|          that no one can deny my words and not be ridiculous. To
15  Gorg|         The ambiguity of several words, such as nature, custom,
16  Gorg|       the Divine Sufferer, whose words the world would not receive,
17  Gorg|   understood, as in all ages the words of philosophers, when they
18  Gorg|  righteousness’ sake.’—Matt.~The words of Socrates are more abstract
19  Gorg|       are more abstract than the words of Christ, but they equally
20  Gorg|      they must paint in eloquent words the character of their own
21  Gorg|       being deceived. And so the words of Socrates, which at first
22  Gorg|    illustrate the meaning of his words by applying them to the
23  Gorg|          love, the embodiment in words of the happiest and holiest
24  Gorg|         is not the master of his words, but his words—perhaps borrowed
25  Gorg|     master of his words, but his words—perhaps borrowed from another—
26  Gorg|         as mere fragments of the words of Scripture, put together
27  Gorg|          are spoken, not written words, stories which are told
28  Gorg|    simplicity. Plato can do with words just as he pleases; to him
29  Gorg|          for I see, from the few words which Polus has uttered,
30  Gorg|      never heard a man use fewer words.~SOCRATES: Very good then;
31  Gorg|    greater—they depend wholly on words for their efficacy and power:
32  Gorg|       works mainly by the use of words, and there are other arts
33  Gorg|        other arts which also use words, tell me what is that quality
34  Gorg|          what is that quality in words with which rhetoric is concerned:—
35  Gorg|        which take effect through words. And then he would proceed
36  Gorg|        he would proceed to ask: ‘Words about what?’ and I should
37  Gorg|       what?’ and I should reply, Words about odd and even numbers,
38  Gorg|         is concerned wholly with words. And if he further said, ‘
39  Gorg|       say that astronomy is only words—he would ask, ‘Words about
40  Gorg|        only words—he would ask, ‘Words about what, Socrates?’ and
41  Gorg|       ends through the medium of words?~GORGIAS: True.~SOCRATES:
42  Gorg|         GORGIAS: True.~SOCRATES: Words which do what? I should
43  Gorg|      what class of things do the words which rhetoric uses relate?~
44  Gorg|         meaning of one another’s words; I would have you develope
45  Gorg|        what surprises me in your words; though I dare say that
46  Gorg|         on our legs again in our words and in our actions: and
47  Gorg|       that I may not use as many words as I please?~SOCRATES: Only
48  Gorg|       art; but if you dispute my words, I am prepared to argue
49  Gorg|       and absurd.~SOCRATES: Good words, good Polus, as I may say
50  Gorg|        you the one witness of my words; nor by you, unless you
51  Gorg|          only of the truth of my words, and he is the person with
52  Gorg|     answer in turn and have your words put to the proof? For I
53  Gorg|          the power to resist the words and ideas of your loves;
54  Gorg|          must understand that my words are an echo too, and therefore
55  Gorg|          is the teacher at whose words you are now wondering, and
56  Gorg|        do not remember the exact words, but the meaning is, that
57  Gorg|       carefully articulating its words, I am offended; the sound
58  Gorg|        these paltry splitters of words, and emulate only the man
59  Gorg|        find me assenting to your words, and hereafter not doing
60  Gorg|        ashamed to be catching at words and chuckling over some
61  Gorg|      that you are yourself using words which have no meaning and
62  Gorg|     liable to be tossed about by words and blown up and down; and
63  Gorg|     fixed upon these, in all the words which he addresses to the
64  Gorg|      which is certainly bold, in words which are like bonds of
65  Gorg|          you under a mountain of words, declaring and insisting
66  Gorg| CALLICLES: Somehow or other your words, Socrates, always appear
67  Gorg|          appear to me to be good words; and yet, like the rest
68  Gorg|      understand and assent to my words, and then a little while
69  Gorg|      seeing that when I speak my words are not uttered with any
70  Gorg|          old men, and use bitter words towards them, whether in