Dialogue

 1 Lache|       past or present; that is to say, of all good and evil. Courage,
 2 Lache|        What do the Lacedaemonians say?’ The one is the thoughtful
 3 Lache|           they are asked will not say what they think. They guess
 4 Lache|         are good judges, and will say exactly what you think,
 5 Lache|           man to learn. Please to say whether you agree to our
 6 Lache|          one another out, do as I say—come and make acquaintance
 7 Lache|        you of your duty. But what say you of the matter of which
 8 Lache|      first what my elders have to say, and to learn of them, and
 9 Lache|        the right time; that is to say, at the time when his appearance
10 Lache|        then, Lysimachus, is, as I say, that the youths should
11 Lache|       glad to hear what he has to say.~LACHES: I should not like
12 Lache|         the use of learning it? I say this, because I think that
13 Lache|   medicine to the eyes, would you say that he is consulting about
14 Lache|          our teachers were, if we say that we have had any, and
15 Lache|   question them. I would have you say to them: Socrates avers
16 Lache|            LYSIMACHUS: Why do you say that, Nicias?~NICIAS: Because
17 Lache|         he will certainly do as I say, and also that I myself
18 Lache|       ourselves; and therefore, I say that for my part, I am quite
19 Lache|      feeling, Nicias, or (shall I say?) two feelings, about discussions.
20 Lache|        merit can give. Therefore, say whatever you like, and do
21 Lache|          ages.~SOCRATES: I cannot say that either of you show
22 Lache|          LACHES: Let us do as you say, Socrates.~SOCRATES: Then
23 Lache|      should I; but what would you say of another man, who fights
24 Lache|    heavy-armed Greek fights, as I say, remaining in his rank.~
25 Lache|          call quickness? I should say the quality which accomplishes
26 Lache|       referring?~LACHES: I should say that courage is a sort of
27 Lache|        question. And yet I cannot say that every kind of endurance
28 Lache|           SOCRATES: And you would say that a wise endurance is
29 Lache|      SOCRATES: But what would you say of a foolish endurance?
30 Lache|            LACHES: I ought not to say that, Socrates.~SOCRATES:
31 Lache| advantages of position; would you say of such a one who endures
32 Lache|          braver?~LACHES: I should say that the latter, Socrates,
33 Lache|          SOCRATES: Then you would say that he who in an engagement
34 Lache|    knowledge?~LACHES: So I should say.~SOCRATES: And he who endures,
35 Lache|        the like, is, as you would say, more courageous than those
36 Lache|     Socrates, what else can a man say?~SOCRATES: Nothing, if that
37 Lache|          our words. Any one would say that we had courage who
38 Lache|          than we are. What do you say?~LACHES: I should like that.~
39 Lache|            I have often heard you say that ‘Every man is good
40 Lache|           and I would like him to say what is the nature of this
41 Lache|         wisdom.~NICIAS: I mean to say, Laches, that courage is
42 Lache|    Socrates.~SOCRATES: Why do you say so, Laches?~LACHES: Why,
43 Lache|      NICIAS: What! do you mean to say that the soothsayer ought
44 Lache|      NICIAS: Much rather I should say he of whom I speak; for
45 Lache|     character, unless he means to say that he is a god. My opinion
46 Lache|        you courageous. And this I say not as a joke, but because
47 Lache|         for I am quite willing to say of you and also of Lamachus,
48 Lache|         me about the parts? For I say that justice, temperance,
49 Lache|         as courage. Would you not say the same?~NICIAS: Certainly.~
50 Lache|      terrible things, as I should say, are the evils which are
51 Lache|    courage, my friend, is, as you say, a knowledge of the fearful
52 Lache|    reference to time. What do you say to that alteration in your
53 Lache|         deal of truth in what you say.~SOCRATES: But then, Nicias,
54 Lache|          many others. What do you say, Socrates—will you comply?