The Apology
    Part
  1 Intro|            the same legal style.~The answer begins by clearing up a
  2 Intro|      probably in anticipation of the answer which he received) had gone
  3 Intro|         wiser than Socrates; and the answer was, that there was no man
  4 Intro|             men? Reflecting upon the answer, he determined to refute
  5 Intro|           obviously not a sufficient answer that Socrates had never
  6 Intro|             had given a more serious answer.~Truly characteristic of
  7 Intro|              is another point in his answer, which may also be regarded
  8 Text |       default, for there was none to answer. And hardest of all, I do
  9 Text |             matters...You hear their answer. And from what they say
 10 Text |          evil name. When I heard the answer, I said to myself, What
 11 Text |             them in both; and I made answer to myself and to the oracle
 12 Text |             only is wise; and by his answer he intends to show that
 13 Text |        citizens, or among good ones? Answer, friend, I say; the question
 14 Text |             those who live with him? Answer, my good friend, the law
 15 Text |              the law requires you to answer— does any one like to be
 16 Text |  inconsistency; and do you, Meletus, answer. And I must remind the audience
 17 Text |             of Athens, that he would answer, and not be always trying
 18 Text | flute-players? No, my friend; I will answer to you and to the court,
 19 Text |              court, as you refuse to answer for yourself. There is no
 20 Text |          ever did. But now please to answer the next question: Can a
 21 Text |            am to have extracted that answer, by the assistance of the
 22 Text |        heroes.~I have said enough in answer to the charge of Meletus:
 23 Text |             end? To him I may fairly answer: There you are mistaken:
 24 Text |            rich or poor, may ask and answer me and listen to my words;
 25 Text |             making you understand my answer to this. For if I tell you


Charmides
    Part
 26 PreS |           abruptness of question and answer, the constant repetition
 27 PreS |           adjustment of question and answer, the lively play of fancy,
 28 PreS |             the form of question and answer, and so the ease of conversation
 29 Intro|      Charmides, distinguishes in his answer between ‘making’ and ‘doing,’
 30 Intro|            temperance or wisdom? The answer is that (6) Temperance is
 31 Text |             really could not at once answer, either yes, or no, to the
 32 Text |       therefore I do not know how to answer you.~I said to him: That
 33 Text |            and was very unwilling to answer: then he said that he thought
 34 Text |              word, he said, I should answer that, in my opinion, temperance
 35 Text |             Charmides had heard this answer about temperance from Critias.
 36 Text |       Charmides, who did not want to answer himself, but to make Critias
 37 Text |         himself, but to make Critias answer, tried to stir him up. He
 38 Text |          science of health, I should answer that medicine is of very
 39 Text |              I want you, Critias, to answer a similar question about
 40 Text |           science of itself, effect? Answer me.~That is not the true
 41 Text |             and give your opinion in answer to the question which I
 42 Text |           all other wishes?~I should answer, No.~Or would you say that
 43 Text |            company that he could not answer my challenge or determine
 44 Text |              knowledge? I said. Just answer me that small question.


Cratylus
    Part
 45 Intro|         seems to demand a more exact answer: In what relation does the
 46 Intro|              etymologies furnish any answer to the question of Hermogenes,
 47 Intro|        syllables and letters?~1. The answer to this difficulty has been
 48 Intro|           kinds of shuttles ought to answer in material and form to
 49 Intro|             names—he who can ask and answer questions—in short, the
 50 Intro|            possibly this is the true answer. But mere antiquity may
 51 Intro|         impossible, to which his own answer would be, that there has
 52 Intro|     structure of such complexity? No answer could have been given to
 53 Intro|             admit of exceptions. The answer in all cases is the same—
 54 Intro|           the voice of man and makes answer to him. Man tells to man
 55 Intro|             of language, there is no answer to the question; or no other
 56 Intro|            the question; or no other answer but this, that there are
 57 Text |            have been at once able to answer your question about the
 58 Text |          HERMOGENES: Yes; what other answer is possible?~SOCRATES: Then
 59 Text |    instrument is a shuttle?’ And you answer, ‘A weaving instrument.’~
 60 Text |            we do when we weave?’—The answer is, that we separate or
 61 Text |       question about names: will you answer me? Regarding the name as
 62 Text |          forms of shuttles naturally answer to the several kinds of
 63 Text |            Yes.~SOCRATES: And how to answer them?~HERMOGENES: Yes.~SOCRATES:
 64 Text |             who knows how to ask and answer you would call a dialectician?~
 65 Text |      syllables.~HERMOGENES: I cannot answer you, Socrates; but I find
 66 Text |              SOCRATES: How would you answer, if you were asked whether
 67 Text |            mean to say, how should I answer him?~HERMOGENES: Yes.~SOCRATES:
 68 Text |          giving the appearance of an answer has been already suggested.~
 69 Text |             is very likely the right answer, and something of this kind
 70 Text |          this process, he who has to answer him must at last give up
 71 Text |             is your meaning I should answer, that there have been plenty
 72 Text |               friend Cratylus, is no answer. For if he did begin in


Crito
    Part
 73 Intro|         death before his eyes, shall answer this for him. Before he
 74 Intro|              him,’ will not the Laws answer, ‘Yes, but was that the
 75 Intro|              Plato never intended to answer the question of casuistry,
 76 Text |             that will clearly be the answer.~SOCRATES: And it is true;
 77 Text |             and try how you can best answer me.~CRITO: I will.~SOCRATES:
 78 Text |       individuals?’ What will be our answer, Crito, to these and the
 79 Text |             with you?’ the law would answer; ‘or were you to abide by
 80 Text |             law would probably add: ‘Answer, Socrates, instead of opening
 81 Text |       violence to his country.’ What answer shall we make to this, Crito?
 82 Text |            citizen. And first of all answer this very question: Are
 83 Text |           true or not?’ How shall we answer, Crito? Must we not assent?~


Euthydemus
    Part
 84 Intro|            that Socrates is ready to answer what they said a year ago,
 85 Intro|           makes us good, there is no answer to the question, ‘good in
 86 Text |         young man is only willing to answer questions.~He is quite accustomed
 87 Text |          Take courage, Cleinias, and answer like a man whichever you
 88 Text |             to me, Cleinias gave his answer: and therefore I had no
 89 Text |             unlearned; and your last answer to Euthydemus was wrong.~
 90 Text |               you were wrong in your answer.~The word was hardly out
 91 Text |         there can be no doubt of the answer.~He assented.~And what things
 92 Text |           said, they are not easy to answer; for they are the words
 93 Text |           mean what you say. And now answer.~What, before you, Dionysodorus?
 94 Text |           you, Dionysodorus? I said.~Answer, said he.~And is that fair?~
 95 Text |      logician, and who knows when to answer and when not to answer—and
 96 Text |            to answer and when not to answer—and now you will not open
 97 Text |            you admit that I am wise, answer as I tell you.~I suppose
 98 Text |            we to acquire? May we not answer with absolute truth—A knowledge
 99 Text |              us? To be sure, was the answer. And would not you, Crito,
100 Text |             may not be ready with an answer?~CRITO: Indeed I am not,
101 Text |           and they would only say in answer to each of his questions,
102 Text |            wise men.~But if you will answer, he said, I will make you
103 Text |             be a greater gain to me.~Answer then, he said.~Ask, I said,
104 Text |              Ask, I said, and I will answer.~Do you know something,
105 Text |           are asking, you tell me to answer nevertheless, and not to
106 Text |               I replied.~Well, then, answer according to your notion
107 Text |            will that please you—if I answer what is not to the point?~
108 Text |        imagine.~I certainly will not answer unless I understand you,
109 Text |            you, I said.~You will not answer, he said, according to your
110 Text |      questions once more, and I will answer.~Answer then, he said, again,
111 Text |             more, and I will answer.~Answer then, he said, again, whether
112 Text |           with my soul.~The man will answer more than the question;
113 Text |           forgive me. And now I will answer simply that I always know
114 Text |            certainly not us. And now answer: Do you always know with
115 Text |        Dionysodorus, and refusing to answer.~No wonder, I said, for
116 Text |              suppose that I had best answer you, Dionysodorus, I said,
117 Text |           wisdom of Euthydemus.~Then answer me, he said.~Well then,
118 Text |          yours, he said.~If you will answer my questions, said Dionysodorus,
119 Text |            you will discover, if you answer; since you admit medicine
120 Text |             returned to the previous answer of Ctesippus and said:—~
121 Text |             be ‘non-plussed’ at that answer.~Here Ctesippus, as his
122 Text |             must have picked up this answer from them; for there has
123 Text |          great quandary at having to answer this question, and I thought


Euthyphro
    Part
124 Intro|             have a more satisfactory answer to the question, ‘What is
125 Intro|              prepares the way for an answer to the question which he
126 Intro|            own character, refuses to answer himself.~Euthyphro is a
127 Intro|              of impiety. Here is one answer to the question, ‘Why Socrates
128 Text |              from you a more precise answer, which you have not as yet
129 Text |             now given me the sort of answer which I wanted. But whether
130 Text |              another? I dare say the answer does not occur to you at


The First Alcibiades
    Part
131 Text |      troubled at having questions to answer?~ALCIBIADES: Not at all.~
132 Text |             SOCRATES: Then please to answer.~ALCIBIADES: Ask me.~SOCRATES:
133 Text |             than they?—How would you answer?~ALCIBIADES: I should reply,
134 Text |           try to do as I do; for the answer which I gave is universally
135 Text |             asked, not to be able to answer the question? Is it not
136 Text |              you knew? And please to answer truly, that our discussion
137 Text |               Did not I ask, and you answer the question?~ALCIBIADES:
138 Text |             the question, or you who answer me?~ALCIBIADES: I am.~SOCRATES:
139 Text |              there is a question and answer, who is the speaker,—the
140 Text |       ALCIBIADES: Proceed.~SOCRATES: Answer my questions—that is all.~
141 Text |             SOCRATES: Then you shall answer; and if you do not hear
142 Text |             ALCIBIADES: I won’t; but answer I will, for I do not see
143 Text |             mouth, for I ask and you answer?~ALCIBIADES: I must acknowledge
144 Text |        fellow-sailors,—how would you answer?~ALCIBIADES: The art of
145 Text |             nature of the agreement?—answer, and faint not.~ALCIBIADES:
146 Text |             the discovery?~SOCRATES: Answer questions, Alcibiades; and
147 Text |        improved by answering, I will answer.~SOCRATES: And first of


Gorgias
    Part
148 Intro|        rhetoric? To this there is no answer given, for Gorgias is soon
149 Intro|           defence of his master. The answer has at last to be given
150 Intro|             adversary has refused to answer any more questions. The
151 Intro|          would elicit from a man the answer, ‘I am a cobbler.’~Polus
152 Intro|             be tired, and desires to answer for him. ‘Who is Gorgias?’
153 Intro|             and unmeaningness of the answer; he tells the disconcerted
154 Intro|             a speech, but not how to answer a question. He wishes that
155 Intro|            wishes that Gorgias would answer him. Gorgias is willing
156 Intro|         Polus shall ask and Socrates answer.~‘What is the art of Rhetoric?’
157 Intro|           consistency, he will.’ The answer does not satisfy Socrates,
158 Intro|         suggests that Socrates shall answer his own questions. ‘Then,’
159 Intro|           really good statesmen, you answer—as if I asked you who were
160 Intro|             what would have been his answer. There have been a few,
161 Intro|             of the Gorgias is not to answer questions about a future
162 Intro|           hardly troubles himself to answer seriously the objections
163 Intro|           suggested in a figure. The answer depends on another question:
164 Text |               Callicles; but will he answer our questions? for I want
165 Text |              Socrates; and indeed to answer questions is a part of his
166 Text |            to him, and that he would answer.~SOCRATES: How fortunate!
167 Text |           been a maker of shoes, the answer that he is a cobbler. Do
168 Text |         saying that you undertake to answer any questions which you
169 Text |            Polus, think that you can answer better than Gorgias?~POLUS:
170 Text |           What does that matter if I answer well enough for you?~CHAEREPHON:
171 Text |            Not at all:—and you shall answer if you like.~POLUS: Ask:—~
172 Text |               if you are disposed to answer: for I see, from the few
173 Text |              indeed, but that was no answer to the question: nobody
174 Text |              you continue to ask and answer questions, Gorgias, as we
175 Text |           you keep your promise, and answer shortly the questions which
176 Text |      SOCRATES: I am glad to hear it; answer me in like manner about
177 Text |          soon know better; please to answer me a question:—you would
178 Text |              now have the rest of my answer:—seeing that rhetoric is
179 Text |              Socrates?’ and I should answer, that astronomy tells us
180 Text |           good? ‘Certainly,’ he will answer, ‘for is not health the
181 Text |               What good? Let Gorgias answer.’ Now I want you, Gorgias,
182 Text |           which you are the creator? Answer us.~GORGIAS: That good,
183 Text |            and about what, —we shall answer, persuasion which teaches
184 Text |       question, Gorgias, what is the answer?~GORGIAS: I answer, Socrates,
185 Text |            is the answer?~GORGIAS: I answer, Socrates, that rhetoric
186 Text |             mentioned?’ How will you answer them?~GORGIAS: I like your
187 Text |     especially as I have promised to answer all comers; in accordance
188 Text |             oration, and refusing to answer what you are asked, I am
189 Text |             and in your turn ask and answer, like myself and Gorgias—
190 Text |             and you will know how to answer him?~POLUS: To be sure.~
191 Text |            which will you do, ask or answer?~POLUS: I will ask; and
192 Text |               I will ask; and do you answer me, Socrates, the same question
193 Text |            you suppose, is unable to answer: What is rhetoric?~SOCRATES:
194 Text |      discourteous; and I hesitate to answer, lest Gorgias should imagine
195 Text |              but I shall be happy to answer, if you will ask me, What
196 Text |         POLUS: I will ask and do you answer? What part of flattery is
197 Text |               Will you understand my answer? Rhetoric, according to
198 Text |            say, if I am compelled to answer, for I call what is bad
199 Text |              could make no use of my answer when I spoke shortly, and
200 Text |              what you please with my answer.~POLUS: What do you mean?
201 Text |          question.~SOCRATES: Then my answer is, that they are not regarded
202 Text |         questions in one, and I will answer both of them. And I tell
203 Text |              am in error or give the answer yourself.~POLUS: Very well,
204 Text |           Very well, I am willing to answer that I may know what you
205 Text |              is evil? Why do you not answer?~POLUS: Well, I suppose
206 Text |            Socrates, that you should answer as well as ask that question.~
207 Text |            you would rather have the answer from me, I say that they
208 Text |            ask then whether you will answer in turn and have your words
209 Text |               SOCRATES: But will you answer?~POLUS: To be sure, I will;
210 Text |             is the greater disgrace?—Answer.~POLUS: To do.~SOCRATES:
211 Text |             dishonour to a less one? Answer, Polus, and fear not; for
212 Text |               If you are not able to answer at once, ask yourself whither
213 Text |       Socrates, there can be but one answer.~SOCRATES: Then rhetoric
214 Text |        injustice?—is that so or not? Answer, Callicles, and let no modesty
215 Text |           thus?—I must beg of you to answer, in order that if you agree
216 Text |             the wiser is the better? Answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’~CALLICLES:
217 Text |            are a brave man. And now, answer my question.~CALLICLES:
218 Text |            my question.~CALLICLES: I answer, that even the scratcher
219 Text |              we agree? Please not to answer without consideration.~CALLICLES:
220 Text |             GORGIAS: Nay, Callicles, answer, if only for our sakes;—
221 Text |         particular, if you will only answer.~CALLICLES: Yes, I have.~
222 Text |             jesting with you; do not answer at random and contrary to
223 Text |               let me ask, and do you answer, which of them belong to
224 Text |            not, you shall refute and answer me. ‘Healthy,’ as I conceive,
225 Text |     temperate soul is good? No other answer can I give, Callicles dear;
226 Text |           the height of disgrace. My answer to you is one which has
227 Text |     questions of you, what would you answer? Whom would you say that
228 Text |             public. Why will you not answer?~CALLICLES: You are contentious,
229 Text |              so; for if you will not answer for yourself I must answer
230 Text |           answer for yourself I must answer for you. But if this is
231 Text |     mob-orator, because you will not answer.~CALLICLES: And you are
232 Text |          unless there is some one to answer?~SOCRATES: I suppose that
233 Text |         enough because you refuse to answer me. But I adjure you by
234 Text |         shall have to repeat the old answer, that he will be a bad man


Ion
    Part
235 Text |              ask, ‘Why is this?’ The answer is that you praise Homer
236 Text |            readily and truly I shall answer you. For there are many
237 Text |              the lyre—what would you answer?~ION: I should reply, by


Laches
    Part
238 Text |            person who asks them, and answer according to his, and not
239 Text |          greatly pleased to hear you answer the questions which Socrates
240 Text |            and do you and he ask and answer one another’s questions:
241 Text |              we must do if we are to answer the question. And yet I
242 Text |      therefore wise.~LACHES: I could answer that; but I would not have
243 Text |           Aexonian.~SOCRATES: Do not answer him, Laches; I rather fancy
244 Text |             true.~SOCRATES: Then the answer which you have given, Nicias,


Laws
    Book
245 1    |              not an easy question to answer; still I should say that
246 1    |           hardly know what to say in answer to you; but still I think
247 1    |             us, or you, there is one answer which exonerates the practice
248 1    |            inhabitant will naturally answer him:—Wonder not, O stranger;
249 1    |               Of course you two will answer that you have never seen
250 1    |            education in general, the answer is easy—that education makes
251 1    |               I should,” will be the answer of every one.~Athenian. “
252 2    |             is excellent; and let us answer that these things are so.~
253 2    |              not see how any one can answer you, or pretend to know,
254 2    |          then, if neither of you can answer, shall I answer this question
255 2    |              you can answer, shall I answer this question which you
256 2    |              would be a very strange answer, which I should not like
257 2    |              and not gymnastic, what answer are either of us likely
258 2    |             an enquiry?~Athenian. An answer is contained in your question;
259 2    |          what you say not only as an answer, but also as a command to
260 3    |             the barbarian, would not answer to the call, or give aid.
261 3    |       Athenian. And that is the best answer; for whichever alternative
262 4    |        organize it?” How ought he to answer this question? Shall I give
263 4    |           question? Shall I give his answer?~Cleinias. Yes.~Athenian.
264 4    |       referred?~Megillus. Ought I to answer first, since I am the elder?~
265 4    |              I may be better able to answer your question: shall I?~
266 4    |               May we not fairly make answer to him on behalf of the
267 4    |            the poets?~Cleinias. What answer shall we make to him?~Athenian.
268 5    |           ask, why not? And we shall answer—Because acquisitions which
269 6    |        cities, a city should give an answer, and to which, if she ask
270 6    |       herself, she should receive an answer; or again, when there is
271 7    |         these matters?”—how shall we answer the divine men? I think
272 7    |         divine men? I think that our answer should be as follows:—Best
273 7    |       question, and do you please to answer me: You know, I suppose,
274 8    |             than either of them? The answer to this question might be
275 9    |             and what shall we say in answer to these objections?~Athenian.
276 10   |           ask the questions and then answer them myself while you listen
277 10   |           are asked of me, my safest answer would appear to be as follows:—
278 10   |      question in another way, making answer to ourselves:—If, as most
279 10   |           more? More than one—I will answer for you; at any rate, we
280 10   |         virtue? Suppose that we make answer as follows:—~Cleinias. How
281 10   |              Cleinias. How would you answer?~Athenian. If, my friend,
282 10   |          easy to give an intelligent answer; and therefore I ought to
283 10   |            Athenian. Then let us not answer as if we would look straight
284 10   |               and will then make the answer on behalf of us all.~Cleinias.
285 10   |               Megillus and Cleinias, answer for the young man as you
286 11   |         rejoices, and he is ready to answer their prayers. And, truly,
287 11   |            give witness and does not answer to his summoner, shall be
288 12   |               as long as their lives answer to the judgment formed of
289 12   |            my good sir, is the right answer. There never has been a
290 12   |             As the proverb says, the answer is no secret, but open to


Lysis
    Part
291 Intro|                      INTRODUCTION~No answer is given in the Lysis to
292 Intro|             partner in marriage. The answer to this latter question
293 Text |              when they prohibit you? Answer me now: Are you your own
294 Text |               and do you, Menexenus, answer. But first I must tell you
295 Text |              Then now we know how to answer the question ‘Who are friends?’
296 Text |            quite satisfied with this answer. By heaven, and shall I
297 Text |              not that be a monstrous answer? and will not the all-wise
298 Text |           opposite of hate; and what answer shall we make to them—must


Meno
    Part
299 Intro|            Dialogue is an attempt to answer the question, Can virtue
300 Intro|              one would either ask or answer such a question in modern
301 Intro|        virtue could be resolved.~The answer which is given by Plato
302 Intro|      Heracleitus. It was the natural answer to two questions, ‘Whence
303 Text |              if you think that I can answer your question. For I literally
304 Text |           nature of the bee? and you answer that there are many kinds
305 Text |              or shape? How would you answer me?~MENO: I should answer
306 Text |            answer me?~MENO: I should answer that bees do not differ
307 Text |          alike;—would you be able to answer?~MENO: I should.~SOCRATES:
308 Text |             and on this he who would answer the question, ‘What is virtue?’
309 Text |             a figure;’ and you would answer ‘a figure.’~MENO: Certainly.~
310 Text |              name of figure? Try and answer. Suppose that when a person
311 Text |               but all? Could you not answer that question, Meno? I wish
312 Text |          practice with a view to the answer about virtue.~MENO: I would
313 Text |         would rather that you should answer, Socrates.~SOCRATES: Shall
314 Text |              What do you say to this answer?—Figure is the only thing
315 Text |        Socrates, it is such a simple answer.~SOCRATES: Why simple?~MENO:
316 Text |          what figure is—what sort of answer would you have given him?~
317 Text |              say to him: You have my answer, and if I am wrong, your
318 Text |          poor old man to give you an answer, when you will not take
319 Text |       therefore to humour you I must answer.~MENO: Please do.~SOCRATES:
320 Text |       SOCRATES: Would you like me to answer you after the manner of
321 Text |             to me to be an admirable answer.~SOCRATES: Why, yes, because
322 Text |            Quite true.~SOCRATES: The answer, Meno, was in the orthodox
323 Text |     acceptable to you than the other answer about figure.~MENO: Yes.~
324 Text |         which you were to frame your answer; and you have forgotten
325 Text |              figure, we rejected any answer given in terms which were
326 Text |      SOCRATES: Then begin again, and answer me, What, according to you
327 Text |             and I do not know how to answer you; and though I have been


Parmenides
    Part
328 Intro|              favour this opinion.~In answer, it might be sufficient
329 Intro|        Socrates attempt to offer any answer to them. The perplexities
330 Intro|              in the Philebus, and no answer is given to them. Nor have
331 Intro|            from which he was able to answer them, is a groundless assumption.
332 Intro|              Socrates; ‘but will you answer me a question? I should
333 Intro|              not an easy question to answer.’ ‘I should imagine the
334 Intro|       monopolise the whole. The only answer to this is, that ‘partaking’
335 Intro|             which is indeed the true answer ‘that the ideas are in our
336 Intro|    philosophy will not admit of this answer, which is repelled by Parmenides
337 Intro|              must be made to find an answer to them; for, as Socrates
338 Intro|             said Zeno. ‘And who will answer me? Shall I propose the
339 Intro|            rest, or rest motion? The answer to this question will throw
340 Intro|          notion of Being. No one can answer the questions which Parmenides
341 Intro|             the human mind. The true answer to the difficulty here thrown
342 Text |           affirmation of the one. My answer is addressed to the partisans
343 Text |              mean absolute knowledge—answer to absolute truth?~Certainly.~
344 Text |              absolute knowledge will answer to each kind of absolute
345 Text |        knowledge which we have, will answer to the truth which we have;
346 Text |              said Zeno.~And who will answer me? he said. Shall I propose
347 Text |             service. Ask, and I will answer.~Parmenides proceeded: 1.
348 Text |               or otherwise?~I cannot answer.~But I can venture to say,


Phaedo
    Part
349 Intro|           now departing. This is his answer to any one who charges him
350 Intro|            smoke or air. Socrates in answer appeals first of all to
351 Intro|              disposed of; and now an answer has to be given to the Theban
352 Intro|   difficulties which Socrates cannot answer. Of generation and destruction
353 Intro|            This is a safe and simple answer, which escapes the contradictions
354 Intro|          beyond ‘the safe and simple answer.’ We may say, not only that
355 Intro|            title to belong? Whatever answer is given by us to these
356 Intro|             to us because we have no answer to them. What is to become
357 Intro|     believing any superstition. What answer can be made to the old commonplace, ‘
358 Intro|       abstract ideas?’ he could only answer by an imaginary hypothesis.
359 Intro|              by his ‘safe and simple answer,’ that beauty is the cause
360 Intro|            perpetual generation. The answer to the ‘very serious question’
361 Intro|            we forbear to ask; for no answer can be given to this question.
362 Text |             would like me to have an answer ready for him, you may as
363 Text |            you think that I ought to answer your indictment as if I
364 Text |       convincing us, that will be an answer to the charge against yourself.~
365 Text |              dead?~I can only say in answer—the living.~Then the living,
366 Text |             way, he will give a true answer of himself, but how could
367 Text |              when we ask and when we answer questions. Of all this we
368 Text |           called death, how shall we answer him?~Socrates looked fixedly
369 Text |              better able than myself answer him? for there is force
370 Text |               But perhaps, before we answer him, we had better also
371 Text |          meet the attack? And did he answer forcibly or feebly? Narrate
372 Text |            That he should be able to answer was nothing, but what astonished
373 Text |             I quite imagined that no answer could be given to him, and
374 Text |       appears to me to be the safest answer which I can give, either
375 Text |            wiser heads than mine may answer them; inexperienced as I
376 Text |           you would not mind him, or answer him, until you had seen
377 Text |          begin again; and do not you answer my question in the words
378 Text |             me have not the old safe answer of which I spoke at first,
379 Text |             call the safe and stupid answer), but fire, a far superior
380 Text |             but fire, a far superior answer, which we are now in a condition
381 Text |            this objection, we cannot answer that the odd principle is
382 Text |          anything else? There was no answer to this question; but in


Phaedrus
    Part
383 Intro|           picture, which can give no answer to a question, and has only
384 Intro|       Symposium, ‘there would be one answer to this question: the practice
385 Text |           and summerlike which makes answer to the chorus of the cicadae.
386 Text |             supplied, ask and I will answer.’~Now, Socrates, what do
387 Text |              our part, will prove in answer to him that the madness
388 Text |         handled by us, and she might answer: What amazing nonsense you
389 Text |         philosophy. And let Phaedrus answer you.~PHAEDRUS: Put the question.~
390 Text |              tone of voice, he would answer: ‘My good friend, he who
391 Text |               Your question needs no answer; but I wish that you would
392 Text |           always gives one unvarying answer. And when they have been


Philebus
    Part
393 Intro|      companions, that Socrates shall answer his own questions, as well
394 Intro|         difficulties and he gives no answer to them. His mode of speaking
395 Intro|           opposites was a sufficient answer to them. He will leave them
396 Intro|             they? He is requested to answer the question himself. That
397 Intro|      moderate and immoderate? We may answer the question by an illustration:
398 Intro|              is the true one? we may answer: All of them—moral sense,
399 Intro|             Philebus, we can give no answer to the question, ‘What is
400 Intro|        included under it? Perhaps we answer, ‘The subjective feeling
401 Text |           Indeed he is, and you must answer him.~SOCRATES: I will; but
402 Text |          have already arrived at the answer to the question which, as
403 Text |       previous discussion desires an answer is, how they are one and
404 Text |           consider which of us shall answer him; there may be something
405 Text |     ridiculous in my being unable to answer, and therefore imposing
406 Text |           neither of us were able to answer, the result methinks would
407 Text |            not as yet any sufficient answer to give; let us not imagine
408 Text |              but if we are unable to answer, do you answer, as you have
409 Text |             unable to answer, do you answer, as you have promised. Consider,
410 Text |            Certainly.~SOCRATES: Then answer.~PROTARCHUS: Ask.~SOCRATES:
411 Text |       eligible?~PROTARCHUS: I cannot answer you, Socrates; the argument
412 Text |            dear Protarchus, and your answer reminds me that such an
413 Text |            you a question before you answer?~PHILEBUS: Let me hear.~
414 Text |              still I must beg you to answer the question.~PROTARCHUS:
415 Text |               Protarchus, propose to answer in my place?~PROTARCHUS:
416 Text |          Socrates.~SOCRATES: Yet the answer is easy, since all philosophers
417 Text |            which does not deserve an answer.~SOCRATES: Right; and you
418 Text |        SOCRATES: And they furnish an answer to my enquiry; for they
419 Text |           think that you now have my answer.~PROTARCHUS: I have indeed,
420 Text |            the puzzle if we find the answer.~PROTARCHUS: A fair retort;
421 Text |         which he may guess the right answer, saying as if in a whisper
422 Text |       PROTARCHUS: Exactly.~SOCRATES: Answer me another question.~PROTARCHUS:
423 Text |         similar phenomena?’ You must answer for them.~PROTARCHUS: The
424 Text |               You, Protarchus, shall answer these severe gentlemen as
425 Text |              severe gentlemen as you answer me.~PROTARCHUS: By all means,
426 Text |            we must be careful in our answer, or we shall come to grief.~
427 Text |       because we might be tempted to answer, ‘When we are in health.’~
428 Text |             Yes, that is the natural answer.~SOCRATES: Well, but are
429 Text |           you do or not, Protarchus. Answer now, and tell me whether
430 Text |          PROTARCHUS: Ask, and I will answer.~SOCRATES: I assume that
431 Text |           PROTARCHUS: Why do you not answer yourself, Socrates?~SOCRATES:
432 Text |              Certainly.~SOCRATES: My answer is, that all things instrumental,
433 Text |            how, Protarchus, shall we answer the enquiry?~PROTARCHUS:
434 Text |         enormous.~SOCRATES: Then the answer will be the easier.~PROTARCHUS:
435 Text |            judgment; and this is the answer which, upon your authority,
436 Text |  misinterpretation?~PROTARCHUS: What answer?~SOCRATES: That there are
437 Text |            Let us boldly return this answer to the masters of whom you
438 Text |            of pleasure and wisdom to answer for themselves.~PROTARCHUS:
439 Text |            that they would certainly answer as follows:~PROTARCHUS:
440 Text |            How?~SOCRATES: They would answer, as we said before, that
441 Text |         respect.~PROTARCHUS: And our answer will be:—In that ye have
442 Text |      pleasure, pause awhile and make answer to yourself—as to whether


Protagoras
    Part
443 Intro|       desires to have a more precise answer. Protagoras replies, ‘That
444 Intro|              virtue. Will Protagoras answer these objections?~Protagoras
445 Intro|           doubt of Socrates the best answer is the fact, that the education
446 Intro|     Protagoras shall ask and he will answer, and that when Protagoras
447 Intro|             ask and Protagoras shall answer. To this the latter yields
448 Intro|            with his pupils, as if in answer to the favourite accusation
449 Intro|              is impossible for us to answer certainly the question of
450 Intro|             that of Hippocrates, the answer to the question is supplied
451 Text |             him money,—how should we answer? I know that Pheidias is
452 Text |             painters wise? We should answer: In what relates to the
453 Text |              presides?—how should we answer him?~How should we answer
454 Text |            answer him?~How should we answer him, Socrates? What other
455 Text |            him, Socrates? What other answer could there be but that
456 Text |           but not enough; for in the answer a further question is involved:
457 Text |              no doubt: but please to answer in a different way—I will
458 Text |             I grow?’—Zeuxippus would answer, ‘In painting.’ And suppose
459 Text |             to make the same sort of answer to this young man and to
460 Text |      questions fairly, and I like to answer a question which is fairly
461 Text |             be a city at all? In the answer to this question is contained
462 Text |              books, they can neither answer nor ask; and if any one
463 Text |              asked a question he can answer briefly; and when he asks
464 Text |            he will wait and hear the answer; and this is a very rare
465 Text |               which if you will only answer, I shall be quite satisfied.
466 Text |            or unjust?’—and I were to answer, just: would you vote with
467 Text |             said.~Thereupon I should answer to him who asked me, that
468 Text |              as holiness?’—we should answer, ‘Yes,’ if I am not mistaken?~
469 Text |         would you say? Would you not answer in the same way?~Certainly,
470 Text |        question; Protagoras gave the answer.’ And suppose that he turned
471 Text |             position?’—how would you answer him?~I could not help acknowledging
472 Text |            the unholy’: how shall we answer him? I should certainly
473 Text |              him? I should certainly answer him on my own behalf that
474 Text |            be permitted to give this answer on your behalf, and whether
475 Text |             please, if you will only answer me and say whether you are
476 Text |           that I who ask and you who answer may both be put on our trial.~
477 Text |              length, he consented to answer.~Now then, I said, begin
478 Text |           begin at the beginning and answer me. You think that some
479 Text |               When he had given this answer, the company cheered him.
480 Text |         enough?~Yes, I said.~Shall I answer what appears to me to be
481 Text |             as well, let him ask and answer—not, when a question is
482 Text |              better then,’—to that I answer that you cannot have any
483 Text |        Protagoras is not disposed to answer, let him ask and I will
484 Text |               let him ask and I will answer; and I will endeavour to
485 Text |              I maintain, he ought to answer: and when I have answered
486 Text |               let him in like manner answer me; and if he seems to be
487 Text |        number of them, that he would answer in his turn those which
488 Text |           for he ought to be able to answer questions about the dialect
489 Text |              saying? And have you an answer for him?~You are entirely
490 Text |              to ask, Socrates should answer; or that if he would rather
491 Text |              that if he would rather answer, then that Socrates should
492 Text |          Protagoras either to ask or answer as he is inclined; but I
493 Text |           mind to ask, I am ready to answer; or if you would rather,
494 Text |             you would rather, do you answer, and give me the opportunity
495 Text |          whether he will or will not answer? for I certainly think that
496 Text |             I might ask and he would answer.~So I said: Do not imagine,
497 Text |         order to make trial of me.~I answer, Socrates, he said, that
498 Text |             of them’: and what I did answer you have not proved to be
499 Text |        regard not only to my present answer, but also to the whole of
500 Text |       overcome by pleasure? I should answer thus: Listen, and Protagoras