The Lovers

"And it seems to me that it should always be this way, that the person who intends to philosophize should be learning at least one thing, both when younger and when older, so that he may learn as much as possible during his life." At first he seemed to me to have said something reasonable; then, having thought about it, I asked him if he considered philosophy to be polymathy original: "polumathia" — excessive learning or knowing many things.. And he said, "Certainly." "Is it because you believe that philosophy is uniquely good, or also noble?" I said. "It is also good," he said, "certainly." "Do you see this as being unique to philosophy, or does it seem to you to be the case in other things as well? For example, do you consider the love of gymnastics not only to be good, but also noble? Or not?" And he replied quite ironically, "As for this man, let it not be said that it is nothing; but for you, Socrates, I agree that you are both noble and good." "Do you therefore consider the love of hard work in the gymnasiums to be the love of gymnastics?" And he said, "Certainly." "Just as I consider the love of learning in philosophizing to be philosophy." I said, "Do you believe that those who love gymnastics desire anything other than this, whatever will make their body be in a good state?" "That," he said. "Do therefore many labors," I said, "make the body be in a good state, or do they not?" "For who," he said, "would have his body in a good state from few labors?" And it seemed to me that the gymnastic lover should be moved at this point, so that he might help me, because of his experience in gymnastics. Then I asked him, "But you, my good man, why are you silent while he is saying these things? Do you think that people have their bodies in a good state from many labors, or from moderate ones?" "I for my part, Socrates," he said, "thought that what is said is what I know even now, that moderate labors make the bodies be in a good state." "Why then..."