The Lovers

"he might appear to be the most graceful and wisest of those present in what is said and done regarding the arts." And I (for I was still in doubt as to what argument he wanted) said, "I think I understand what kind of philosopher man you mean. You seem to me to speak of the way pentathletes are in the competition compared to runners or wrestlers; for they are left behind by these in their own contests, and are second to them, but are the first of the other athletes, and defeat them. Perhaps you might be speaking of philosophizing in such a way, that it makes those who pursue this pursuit: to be second in understanding regarding the arts, yet holding the second prizes, and excelling the others; and thus the one who has philosophized becomes a man who is second in everything. This is the kind of person you seem to indicate." "You seem to me, Socrates," he said, "to have taken the matter of the philosopher well, comparing him to the pentathlete. For he is truly such a one, as not to be a slave to any single task, nor to have labored so precisely in any one thing that, through the care of this one thing, all others are neglected, like the craftsmen, but to have touched upon all things moderately." After this answer, I, being eager to know clearly what he was saying, inquired of him whether he supposed the good to be useful or useless. "Useful, of course, Socrates," he said. "Are then, if the good are useful, the bad useless?" He agreed. "What then? Do you consider the philosopher men to be useful, or not?" And he agreed that they are useful, and furthermore said he considered them the most useful. "Come then, let us know if you are saying something true. And are these second-best ones useful to us?"