byPlatotranslatedbyBenjaminJowettMENO
　　PERSONSOFTHEDIALOGUEMENO；SOCRATES；ASLAVEOFMENO；
　　ANYTUS
　　Meno。Canyoutellme，Socrates，whethervirtueisacquiredbyteachingorbypractice；orifneitherbyteachingnorpractice，thenwhetheritcomestomanbynature，orinwhatotherway？
　　Socrates。OMeno，therewasatimewhentheThessalianswerefamousamongtheotherHellenesonlyfortheirrichesandtheirriding；butnow，ifIamnotmistaken，theyareequallyfamousfortheirwisdom，especiallyatLarisa，whichisthenativecityofyourfriendAristippus。AndthisisGorgias’doing；forwhenhecamethere，thefloweroftheAleuadae，amongthemyouradmirerAristippus，andtheotherchiefsoftheThessalians，fellinlovewithhiswisdom。Andhehastaughtyouthehabitofansweringquestionsinagrandandboldstyle，whichbecomesthosewhoknow，andisthestyleinwhichhehimselfanswersallcomers；andanyHellenewholikesmayaskhimanything。Howdifferentisourlot！mydearMeno。HereatAthensthereisadearthofthecommodity，andallwisdomseemstohaveemigratedfromustoyou。IamcertainthatifyouweretoaskanyAthenianwhethervirtuewasnaturaloracquired，hewouldlaughinyourface，andsay："Stranger，youhavefartoogoodanopinionofme，ifyouthinkthatIcanansweryourquestion。ForIliterallydonotknowwhatvirtueis，andmuchlesswhetheritisacquiredbyteachingornot。"AndImyself，Meno，livingasIdointhisregionofpoverty，amaspoorastherestoftheworld；andIconfesswithshamethatIknowliterallynothingaboutvirtue；andwhenIdonotknowthe"quid"ofanythinghowcanIknowthe"quale"？How，ifIknewnothingatallofMeno，couldItellifhewasfair，ortheoppositeoffair；richandnoble，orthereverseofrichandnoble？DoyouthinkthatI
　　could？
　　Men。No，Indeed。Butareyouinearnest，Socrates，insayingthatyoudonotknowwhatvirtueis？AndamItocarrybackthisreportofyoutoThessaly？
　　Soc。Notonlythat，mydearboy，butyoumaysayfurtherthatIhaveneverknownofanyoneelsewhodid，inmyjudgment。
　　Men。ThenyouhavenevermetGorgiaswhenhewasatAthens？
　　Soc。Yes，Ihave。
　　Men。Anddidyounotthinkthatheknew？
　　Soc。Ihavenotagoodmemory，Meno，andthereforeIcannotnowtellwhatIthoughtofhimatthetime。AndIdaresaythathedidknow，andthatyouknowwhathesaid：please，therefore，toremindmeofwhathesaid；or，ifyouwouldrather，tellmeyourownview；forI
　　suspectthatyouandhethinkmuchalike。
　　Men。Verytrue。
　　Soc。Thenasheisnothere，nevermindhim，anddoyoutellme：
　　Bythegods，Meno，begenerous，andtellmewhatyousaythatvirtueis；forIshallbetrulydelightedtofindthatIhavebeenmistaken，andthatyouandGorgiasdoreallyhavethisknowledge；
　　althoughIhavebeenjustsayingthatIhaveneverfoundanybodywhohad。
　　Men。Therewillbenodifficulty，Socrates，inansweringyourquestion。Letustakefirstthevirtueofaman—heshouldknowhowtoadministerthestate，andintheadministrationofittobenefithisfriendsandharmhisenemies；andhemustalsobecarefulnottosufferharmhimself。Awoman’svirtue，ifyouwishtoknowaboutthat，mayalsobeeasilydescribed：herdutyistoorderherhouse，andkeepwhatisindoors，andobeyherhusband。Everyage，everyconditionoflife，youngorold，maleorfemale，bondorfree，hasadifferentvirtue：therearevirtuesnumberless，andnolackofdefinitionsofthem；forvirtueisrelativetotheactionsandagesofeachofusinallthatwedo。Andthesamemaybesaidofvice，Socrates。
　　Soc。HowfortunateIam，Meno！WhenIaskyouforonevirtue，youpresentmewithaswarmofthem，whichareinyourkeeping。SupposethatIcarryonthefigureoftheswarm，andaskofyou，Whatisthenatureofthebee？andyouanswerthattherearemanykindsofbees，andIreply：Butdobeesdifferasbees，becausetherearemanyanddifferentkindsofthem；oraretheynotrathertobedistinguishedbysomeotherquality，asforexamplebeauty，size，orshape？Howwouldyouanswerme？
　　Men。Ishouldanswerthatbeesdonotdifferfromoneanother，asbees。
　　Soc。AndifIwentontosay：ThatiswhatIdesiretoknow，Meno；
　　tellmewhatisthequalityinwhichtheydonotdiffer，butareallalike；—wouldyoubeabletoanswer？
　　Men。Ishould。
　　Soc。Andsoofthevirtues，howevermanyanddifferenttheymaybe，theyhaveallacommonnaturewhichmakesthemvirtues；andonthishewhowouldanswerthequestion，"Whatisvirtue？"woulddowelltohavehiseyefixed：Doyouunderstand？
　　Men。Iambeginningtounderstand；butIdonotasyettakeholdofthequestionasIcouldwish。
　　Soc。Whenyousay，Meno，thatthereisonevirtueofaman，anotherofawoman，anotherofachild，andsoon，doesthisapplyonlytovirtue，orwouldyousaythesameofhealth，andsize，andstrength？Oristhenatureofhealthalwaysthesame，whetherinmanorwoman？
　　Men。Ishouldsaythathealthisthesame，bothinmanandwoman。
　　Soc。Andisnotthistrueofsizeandstrength？Ifawomanisstrong，shewillbestrongbyreasonofthesameformandofthesamestrengthsubsistinginherwhichthereisintheman。Imeantosaythatstrength，asstrength，whetherofmanorwoman，isthesame。Isthereanydifference？
　　Men。Ithinknot。
　　Soc。Andwillnotvirtue，asvirtue，bethesame，whetherinachildorinagrown—upperson，inawomanorinaman？
　　Men。Icannothelpfeeling，Socrates，thatthiscaseisdifferentfromtheothers。
　　Soc。Butwhy？Wereyounotsayingthatthevirtueofamanwastoorderastate，andthevirtueofawomanwastoorderahouse？
　　Men。Ididsayso。
　　Soc。Andcaneitherhouseorstateoranythingbewellorderedwithouttemperanceandwithoutjustice？
　　Men。Certainlynot。
　　Soc。Thentheywhoorderastateorahousetemperatelyorjustlyorderthemwithtemperanceandjustice？
　　Men。Certainly。
　　Soc。Thenbothmenandwomen，iftheyaretobegoodmenandwomen，musthavethesamevirtuesoftemperanceandjustice？
　　Men。True。
　　Soc。Andcaneitherayoungmanoranelderonebegood，iftheyareintemperateandunjust？
　　Men。Theycannot。
　　Soc。Theymustbetemperateandjust？
　　Men。Yes。
　　Soc。Thenallmenaregoodinthesameway，andbyparticipationinthesamevirtues？
　　Men。Suchistheinference。
　　Soc。Andtheysurelywouldnothavebeengoodinthesameway，unlesstheirvirtuehadbeenthesame？
　　Men。Theywouldnot。
　　Soc。Thennowthatthesamenessofallvirtuehasbeenproven，tryandrememberwhatyouandGorgiassaythatvirtueis。
　　Men。Willyouhaveonedefinitionofthemall？
　　Soc。ThatiswhatIamseeking。
　　Men。Ifyouwanttohaveonedefinitionofthemall，Iknownotwhattosay，butthatvirtueisthepowerofgoverningmankind。
　　Soc。Anddoesthisdefinitionofvirtueincludeallvirtue？Isvirtuethesameinachildandinaslave，Meno？Canthechildgovernhisfather，ortheslavehismaster；andwouldhewhogovernedbeanylongeraslave？
　　Men。Ithinknot，Socrates。
　　Soc。No，indeed；therewouldbesmallreasoninthat。Yetoncemore，fairfriend；accordingtoyou，virtueis"thepowerofgoverning"；butdoyounotadd"justlyandnotunjustly"？
　　Men。Yes，Socrates；Iagreethere；forjusticeisvirtue。
　　Soc。Wouldyousay"virtue，"Meno，or"avirtue"？
　　Men。Whatdoyoumean？
　　Soc。ImeanasImightsayaboutanything；thataround，forexample，is"afigure"andnotsimply"figure，"andIshouldadoptthismodeofspeaking，becausethereareotherfigures。
　　Men。Quiteright；andthatisjustwhatIamsayingaboutvirtue—thatthereareothervirtuesaswellasjustice。
　　Soc。Whatarethey？tellmethenamesofthem，asIwouldtellyouthenamesoftheotherfiguresifyouaskedme。
　　Men。Courageandtemperanceandwisdomandmagnanimityarevirtues；andtherearemanyothers。
　　Soc。Yes，Meno；andagainweareinthesamecase：insearchingafteronevirtuewehavefoundmany，thoughnotinthesamewayasbefore；butwehavebeenunabletofindthecommonvirtuewhichrunsthroughthemall。
　　Men。Why，Socrates，evennowIamnotabletofollowyouintheattempttogetatonecommonnotionofvirtueasofotherthings。
　　Soc。Nowonder；butIwilltrytogetnearerifIcan，foryouknowthatallthingshaveacommonnotion。SupposenowthatsomeoneaskedyouthequestionwhichIaskedbefore：Meno，hewouldsay，whatisfigure？Andifyouanswered"roundness，"hewouldreplytoyou，inmywayofspeaking，byaskingwhetheryouwouldsaythatroundnessis"figure"or"afigure"；andyouwouldanswer"afigure。"
　　Men。Certainly。
　　Soc。Andforthisreason—thatthereareotherfigures？
　　Men。Yes。
　　Soc。Andifheproceededtoask，Whatotherfiguresarethere？youwouldhavetoldhim。
　　Men。Ishould。
　　Soc。Andifhesimilarlyaskedwhatcolouris，andyouansweredwhiteness，andthequestionerrejoined，Wouldyousaythatwhitenessiscolouroracolour？youwouldreply，Acolour，becausethereareothercoloursaswell。
　　Men。Ishould。
　　Soc。Andifhehadsaid，Tellmewhattheyare？—youwouldhavetoldhimofothercolourswhicharecoloursjustasmuchaswhiteness。
　　Men。Yes。
　　Soc。Andsupposethatheweretopursuethematterinmyway，hewouldsay：Everandanonwearelandedinparticulars，butthisisnotwhatIwant；tellmethen，sinceyoucallthembyacommonname，andsaythattheyareallfigures，evenwhenopposedtooneanother，whatisthatcommonnaturewhichyoudesignateasfigure—whichcontainsstraightaswellasround，andisnomoreonethantheother—thatwouldbeyourmodeofspeaking？
　　Men。Yes。
　　Soc。Andinspeakingthus，youdonotmeantosaythattheroundisroundanymorethanstraight，orthestraightanymorestraightthanround？
　　Men。Certainlynot。
　　Soc。Youonlyassertthattheroundfigureisnotmoreafigurethanthestraight，orthestraightthantheround？
　　Men。Verytrue。
　　Soc。Towhatthendowegivethenameoffigure？Tryandanswer。
　　Supposethatwhenapersonaskedyouthisquestioneitheraboutfigureorcolour，youweretoreply，Man，Idonotunderstandwhatyouwant，orknowwhatyouaresaying；hewouldlookratherastonishedandsay：DoyounotunderstandthatIamlookingforthe"simileinmultis"？Andthenhemightputthequestioninanotherform：Mono，hemightsay，whatisthat"simileinmultis"whichyoucallfigure，andwhichincludesnotonlyroundandstraightfigures，butall？Couldyounotanswerthatquestion，Meno？Iwishthatyouwouldtry；theattemptwillbegoodpracticewithaviewtotheansweraboutvirtue。
　　Men。Iwouldratherthatyoushouldanswer，Socrates。
　　Soc。ShallIindulgeyou？
　　Men。Byallmeans。
　　Soc。Andthenyouwilltellmeaboutvirtue？
　　Men。Iwill。
　　Soc。ThenImustdomybest，forthereisaprizetobewon。
　　Men。Certainly。
　　Soc。Well，Iwilltryandexplaintoyouwhatfigureis。Whatdoyousaytothisanswer？—Figureistheonlythingwhichalwaysfollowscolour。Willyoubesatisfiedwithit，asIamsurethatIshouldbe，ifyouwouldletmehaveasimilardefinitionofvirtue？
　　Men。But，Socrates，itissuchasimpleanswer。
　　Soc。Whysimple？
　　Men。Because，accordingtoyou，figureisthatwhichalwaysfollowscolour。
　　（Soc。Granted。）
　　Men。Butifapersonweretosaythathedoesnotknowwhatcolouris，anymorethanwhatfigureis—whatsortofanswerwouldyouhavegivenhim？
　　Soc。Ishouldhavetoldhimthetruth。Andifhewereaphilosopheroftheeristicandantagonisticsort，Ishouldsaytohim：
　　Youhavemyanswer，andifIamwrong，yourbusinessistotakeuptheargumentandrefuteme。Butifwewerefriends，andweretalkingasyouandIarenow，Ishouldreplyinamilderstrainandmoreinthedialectician’svein；thatistosay，Ishouldnotonlyspeakthetruth，butIshouldmakeuseofpremisseswhichthepersoninterrogatedwouldbewillingtoadmit。AndthisisthewayinwhichI
　　shallendeavourtoapproachyou。Youwillacknowledge，willyounot，thatthereissuchathingasanend，ortermination，orextremity？—allwhichwordsuseinthesamesense，althoughIamawarethatProdicusmightdrawdistinctionsaboutthem：butstillyou，Iamsure，wouldspeakofathingasendedorterminated—thatisallwhichIamsaying—notanythingverydifficult。
　　Men。Yes，Ishould；andIbelievethatIunderstandyourmeaning。
　　Soc。Andyouwouldspeakofasurfaceandalsoofasolid，asforexampleingeometry。
　　Men。Yes。
　　Soc。Wellthen，youarenowinaconditiontounderstandmydefinitionoffigure。Idefinefiguretobethatinwhichthesolidends；or，moreconcisely，thelimitofsolid。
　　Men。Andnow，Socrates，whatiscolour？
　　Soc。Youareoutrageous，Meno，inthusplaguingapooroldmantogiveyouananswer，whenyouwillnottakethetroubleofrememberingwhatisGorgias’definitionofvirtue。
　　Men。WhenyouhavetoldmewhatIask，Iwilltellyou，Socrates。
　　Soc。Amanwhowasblindfoldedhasonlytohearyoutalking，andhewouldknowthatyouareafaircreatureandhavestillmanylovers。
　　Men。Whydoyouthinkso？
　　Soc。Why，becauseyoualwaysspeakinimperatives：likeallbeautieswhentheyareintheirprime，youaretyrannical；andalso，asI
　　suspect，youhavefoundoutthatIhaveweaknessforthefair，andthereforetohumouryouImustanswer。
　　Men。Pleasedo。
　　Soc。WouldyoulikemetoansweryouafterthemannerofGorgias，whichisfamiliartoyou？
　　Men。Ishouldlikenothingbetter。
　　Soc。DonotheandyouandEmpedoclessaythattherearecertaineffluencesofexistence？
　　Men。Certainly。
　　Soc。Andpassagesintowhichandthroughwhichtheeffluencespass？
　　Men。Exactly。
　　Soc。Andsomeoftheeffluencesfitintothepassages，andsomeofthemaretoosmallortoolarge？
　　Men。True。
　　Soc。Andthereissuchathingassight？
　　Men。Yes。
　　Soc。Andnow，asPindarsays，"readmymeaning"colourisaneffluenceofform，commensuratewithsight，andpalpabletosense。
　　Men。That，Socrates，appearstometobeanadmirableanswer。
　　Soc。Why，yes，becauseithappenstobeonewhichyouhavebeeninthehabitofhearing：andyourwitwillhavediscovered，Isuspect，thatyoumayexplaininthesamewaythenatureofsoundandsmell，andofmanyothersimilarphenomena。
　　Men。Quitetrue。
　　Soc。Theanswer，Meno，wasintheorthodoxsolemnvein，andthereforewasmoreacceptabletoyouthantheotheransweraboutfigure。
　　Men。Yes。
　　Soc。Andyet，OsonofAlexidemus，Icannothelpthinkingthattheotherwasthebetter；andIamsurethatyouwouldbeofthesameopinion，ifyouwouldonlystayandbeinitiated，andwerenotcompelled，asyousaidyesterday，togoawaybeforethemysteries。
　　Men。ButIwillstay，Socrates，ifyouwillgivememanysuchanswers。
　　Soc。Wellthen，formyownsakeaswellasforyours，Iwilldomyverybest；butIamafraidthatIshallnotbeabletogiveyouverymanyasgood：andnow，inyourturn，youaretofulfilyourpromise，andtellmewhatvirtueisintheuniversal；anddonotmakeasingularintoaplural，asthefacetioussayofthosewhobreakathing，butdelivervirtuetomewholeandsound，andnotbrokenintoanumberofpieces：Ihavegivenyouthepattern。
　　Men。Wellthen，Socrates，virtue，asItakeit，iswhenhe，whodesiresthehonourable，isabletoprovideitforhimself；sothepoetsays，andIsaytoo—
　　Virtueisthedesireofthingshonourableandthepowerofattainingthem。
　　Soc。Anddoeshewhodesiresthehonourablealsodesirethegood？
　　Men。Certainly。
　　Soc。Thenaretheresomewhodesiretheevilandotherswhodesirethegood？Donotallmen，mydearsir，desiregood？
　　Men。Ithinknot。
　　Soc。Therearesomewhodesireevil？
　　Men。Yes。
　　Soc。Doyoumeanthattheythinktheevilswhichtheydesire，tobegood；ordotheyknowthattheyareevilandyetdesirethem？
　　Men。Both，Ithink。
　　Soc。Anddoyoureallyimagine，Meno，thatamanknowsevilstobeevilsanddesiresthemnotwithstanding？
　　Men。CertainlyIdo。
　　Soc。Anddesireisofpossession？
　　Men。Yes，ofpossession。
　　Soc。Anddoeshethinkthattheevilswilldogoodtohimwhopossessesthem，ordoesheknowthattheywilldohimharm？
　　Men。Therearesomewhothinkthattheevilswilldothemgood，andotherswhoknowthattheywilldothemharm。
　　Soc。And，inyouropinion，dothosewhothinkthattheywilldothemgoodknowthattheyareevils？
　　Men。Certainlynot。
　　Soc。Isitnotobviousthatthosewhoareignorantoftheirnaturedonotdesirethem；buttheydesirewhattheysupposetobegoodsalthoughtheyarereallyevils；andiftheyaremistakenandsupposetheevilstobegoodtheyreallydesiregoods？
　　Men。Yes，inthatcase。
　　Soc。Well，anddothosewho，asyousay，desireevils，andthinkthatevilsarehurtfultothepossessorofthem，knowthattheywillbehurtbythem？
　　Men。Theymustknowit。
　　Soc。Andmusttheynotsupposethatthosewhoarehurtaremiserableinproportiontothehurtwhichisinflicteduponthem？
　　Men。Howcanitbeotherwise？
　　Soc。Butarenotthemiserableill—fated？
　　Men。Yes，indeed。
　　Soc。Anddoesanyonedesiretobemiserableandill—fated？
　　Men。Ishouldsaynot，Socrates。
　　Soc。Butifthereisnoonewhodesirestobemiserable，thereisnoone，Meno，whodesiresevil；forwhatismiserybutthedesireandpossessionofevil？
　　Men。Thatappearstobethetruth，Socrates，andIadmitthatnobodydesiresevil。
　　Soc。Andyet，wereyounotsayingjustnowthatvirtueisthedesireandpowerofattaininggood？
　　Men。Yes，Ididsayso。
　　Soc。Butifthisbeaffirmed，thenthedesireofgoodiscommontoall，andonemanisnobetterthananotherinthatrespect？
　　Men。True。
　　Soc。Andifonemanisnotbetterthananotherindesiringgood，hemustbebetterinthepowerofattainingit？
　　Men。Exactly。
　　Soc。Then，accordingtoyourdefinition，virtuewouldappeartobethepowerofattaininggood？
　　Men。Ientirelyapprove，Socrates，ofthemannerinwhichyounowviewthismatter。
　　Soc。Thenletusseewhetherwhatyousayistruefromanotherpointofview；forverylikelyyoumayberight：—Youaffirmvirtuetobethepowerofattaininggoods？
　　Men。Yes。
　　Soc。Andthegoodswhichmeanaresuchashealthandwealthandthepossessionofgoldandsilver，andhavingofficeandhonourinthestate—thosearewhatyouwouldcallgoods？
　　Men。Yes，Ishouldincludeallthose。
　　Soc。Then，accordingtoMeno，whoisthehereditaryfriendofthegreatking，virtueisthepowerofgettingsilverandgold；andwouldyouaddthattheymustbegainedpiously，justly，ordoyoudeemthistobeofnoconsequence？Andisanymodeofacquisition，evenifunjustanddishonest，equallytobedeemedvirtue？
　　Men。Notvirtue，Socrates，butvice。
　　Soc。Thenjusticeortemperanceorholiness，orsomeotherpartofvirtue，aswouldappear，mustaccompanytheacquisition，andwithoutthemthemereacquisitionofgoodwillnotbevirtue。
　　Men。Why，howcantherebevirtuewithoutthese？
　　Soc。Andthenon—acquisitionofgoldandsilverinadishonestmannerforoneselforanother，orinotherwordsthewantofthem，maybeequallyvirtue？
　　Men。True。
　　Soc。Thentheacquisitionofsuchgoodsisnomorevirtuethanthenon—acquisitionandwantofthem，butwhateverisaccompaniedbyjusticeorhonestyisvirtue，andwhateverisdevoidofjusticeisvice。
　　Men。Itcannotbeotherwise，inmyjudgment。
　　Soc。Andwerewenotsayingjustnowthatjustice，temperance，andthelike，wereeachofthemapartofvirtue？
　　Men。Yes。
　　Soc。Andso，Meno，thisisthewayinwhichyoumockme。
　　Men。Whydoyousaythat，Socrates？
　　Soc。Why，becauseIaskedyoutodelivervirtueintomyhandswholeandunbroken，andIgaveyouapatternaccordingtowhichyouweretoframeyouranswer；andyouhaveforgottenalready，andtellmethatvirtueisthepowerofattaininggoodjustly，orwithjustice；
　　andjusticeyouacknowledgetobeapartofvirtue。
　　Men。Yes。
　　Soc。Thenitfollowsfromyourownadmissions，thatvirtueisdoingwhatyoudowithapartofvirtue；forjusticeandthelikearesaidbyyoutobepartsofvirtue。
　　Men。Whatofthat？
　　Soc。Whatofthat！Why，didnotIaskyoutotellmethenatureofvirtueasawhole？Andyouareveryfarfromtellingmethis；butdeclareeveryactiontobevirtuewhichisdonewithapartofvirtue；
　　asthoughyouhadtoldmeandImustalreadyknowthewholeofvirtue，andthistoowhenfritteredawayintolittlepieces。And，therefore，mydearIfearthatImustbeginagainandrepeatthesamequestion：
　　Whatisvirtue？forotherwise，Icanonlysay，thateveryactiondonewithapartofvirtueisvirtue；whatelseisthemeaningofsayingthateveryactiondonewithjusticeisvirtue？OughtInottoaskthequestionoveragain；forcananyonewhodoesnotknowvirtueknowapartofvirtue？
　　Men。No；Idonotsaythathecan。
　　Soc。Doyourememberhow，intheexampleoffigure，werejectedanyanswergivenintermswhichwereasyetunexplainedorunadmitted？
　　Men。Yes，Socrates；andwewerequiterightindoingso。
　　Soc。Butthen，myfriend，donotsupposethatwecanexplaintoanyonethenatureofvirtueasawholethroughsomeunexplainedportionofvirtue，oranythingatallinthatfashion；weshouldonlyhavetoaskoveragaintheoldquestion，Whatisvirtue？AmInotright？
　　Men。Ibelievethatyouare。
　　Soc。Thenbeginagain，andanswerme，What，accordingtoyouandyourfriendGorgias，isthedefinitionofvirtue？
　　Men。OSocrates，Iusedtobetold，beforeIknewyou，thatyouwerealwaysdoubtingyourselfandmakingothersdoubt；andnowyouarecastingyourspellsoverme，andIamsimplygettingbewitchedandenchanted，andamatmywits’end。AndifImayventuretomakeajestuponyou，youseemtomebothinyourappearanceandinyourpoweroverotherstobeveryliketheflattorpedofish，whotorpifiesthosewhocomenearhimandtouchhim，asyouhavenowtorpifiedme，I
　　think。Formysoulandmytonguearereallytorpid，andIdonotknowhowtoansweryou；andthoughIhavebeendeliveredofaninfinitevarietyofspeechesaboutvirtuebeforenow，andtomanypersons—andverygoodonestheywere，asIthought—atthismomentI
　　cannotevensaywhatvirtueis。AndIthinkthat。youareverywiseinnotvoyagingandgoingawayfromhome，forifyoudidinotherplacesasdoinAthens，youwouldbecastintoprisonasamagician。
　　Soc。Youarearogue，Meno，andhadallbutcaughtme。
　　Men。Whatdoyoumean，Socrates？
　　Soc。Icantellwhyyoumadeasimileaboutme。
　　Men。Why？
　　Soc。InorderthatImightmakeanothersimileaboutyou。ForIknowthatallprettyyounggentlemenliketohaveprettysimilesmadeaboutthem—aswelltheymay—butIshallnotreturnthecompliment。Astomybeingatorpedo，ifthetorpedoistorpidaswellasthecauseoftorpidityinothers，thenindeedIamatorpedo，butnototherwise；
　　forIperplexothers，notbecauseIamclear，butbecauseIamutterlyperplexedmyself。AndnowIknownotwhatvirtueis，andyouseemtobeinthesamecase，althoughyoudidonceperhapsknowbeforeyoutouchedme。However，Ihavenoobjectiontojoinwithyouintheenquiry。
　　Men。Andhowwillyouenquire，Socrates，intothatwhichyoudonotknow？Whatwillyouputforthasthesubjectofenquiry？Andifyoufindwhatyouwant，howwillyoueverknowthatthisisthethingwhichyoudidnotknow？
　　Soc。Iknow，Meno，whatyoumean；butjustseewhatatiresomedisputeyouareintroducing。Youarguethatmancannotenquireeitheraboutthatwhichheknows，oraboutthatwhichhedoesnotknow；forifheknows，hehasnoneedtoenquire；andifnot，hecannot；forhedoesnotknowthe，verysubjectaboutwhichheistoenquire。
　　Men。Well，Socrates，andisnottheargumentsound？
　　Soc。Ithinknot。
　　Men。Whynot？
　　Soc。Iwilltellyouwhy：Ihaveheardfromcertainwisemenandwomenwhospokeofthingsdivinethat—
　　Men。Whatdidtheysay？
　　Soc。Theyspokeofaglorioustruth，asIconceive。
　　Men。Whatwasit？andwhowerethey？
　　Soc。Someofthemwerepriestsandpriestesses，whohadstudiedhowtheymightbeabletogiveareasonoftheirprofession：there，havebeenpoetsalso，whospokeofthesethingsbyinspiration，likePindar，andmanyotherswhowereinspired。Andtheysay—mark，now，andseewhethertheirwordsaretrue—theysaythatthesoulofmanisimmortal，andatonetimehasanend，whichistermeddying，andatanothertimeisbornagain，butisneverdestroyed。Andthemoralis，thatamanoughttolivealwaysinperfectholiness。"ForintheninthyearPersephonesendsthesoulsofthosefromwhomshehasreceivedthepenaltyofancientcrimebackagainfrombeneathintothelightofthesunabove，andthesearetheywhobecomenoblekingsandmightymenandgreatinwisdomandarecalledsaintlyheroesinafterages。"Thesoul，then，asbeingimmortal，andhavingbeenbornagainmanytimes，randhavingseenallthingsthatexist，whetherinthisworldorintheworldbelow，hasknowledgeofthemall；anditisnowonderthatsheshouldbeabletocalltoremembranceallthatsheeverknewaboutvirtue，andabouteverything；forasallnatureisakin，andthesoulhaslearnedallthings；thereisnodifficultyinherelicitingorasmensaylearning，outofasinglerecollection—alltherest，ifamanisstrenuousanddoesnotfaint；forallenquiryandalllearningisbutrecollection。Andthereforeweoughtnottolistentothissophisticalargumentabouttheimpossibilityofenquiry：foritwillmakeusidle；andissweetonlytothesluggard；buttheothersayingwillmakeusactiveandinquisitive。Inthatconfiding，Iwillgladlyenquirewithyouintothenatureofvirtue。
　　Men。Yes，Socrates；butwhatdoyoumeanbysayingthatwedonotlearn，andthatwhatwecalllearningisonlyaprocessofrecollection？Canyouteachmehowthisis？
　　Soc。Itoldyou，Meno，justnowthatyouwerearogue，andnowyouaskwhetherIcanteachyou，whenIamsayingthatthereisnoteaching，butonlyrecollection；andthusyouimaginethatyouwillinvolvemeinacontradiction。
　　Men。Indeed，Socrates，IprotestthatIhadnosuchintention。I
　　onlyaskedthequestionfromhabit；butifyoucanprovetomethatwhatyousayistrue，Iwishthatyouwould。
　　Soc。Itwillbenoeasymatter，butIwilltrytopleaseyoutotheutmostofmypower。Supposethatyoucalloneofyournumerousattendants，thatImaydemonstrateonhim。
　　Men。Certainly。Comehither，boy。
　　Soc。HeisGreek，andspeaksGreek，doeshenot？
　　Men。Yes，indeed；hewasborninthehouse。
　　Soc。AttendnowtothequestionswhichIaskhim，andobservewhetherhelearnsofmeoronlyremembers。
　　Men。Iwill。
　　Soc。Tellme，boy，doyouknowthatafigurelikethisisasquare？
　　Boy。Ido。
　　Soc。Andyouknowthatasquarefigurehasthesefourlinesequal？
　　Boy。Certainly。
　　Soc。AndtheselineswhichIhavedrawnthroughthemiddleofthesquarearealsoequal？
　　Boy。Yes。
　　Soc。Asquaremaybeofanysize？
　　Boy。Certainly。
　　Soc。Andifonesideofthefigurebeoftwofeet，andtheothersidebeoftwofeet，howmuchwillthewholebe？Letmeexplain：ifinonedirectionthespacewasoftwofeet，andinotherdirectionofonefoot，thewholewouldbeoftwofeettakenonce？
　　Boy。Yes。
　　Soc。Butsincethissideisalsooftwofeet，therearetwicetwofeet？
　　Boy。Thereare。
　　Soc。Thenthesquareisoftwicetwofeet？
　　Boy。Yes。
　　Soc。Andhowmanyaretwicetwofeet？countandtellme。
　　Boy。Four，Socrates。
　　Soc。Andmighttherenotbeanothersquaretwiceaslargeasthis，andhavinglikethisthelinesequal？
　　Boy。Yes。
　　Soc。Andofhowmanyfeetwillthatbe？
　　Boy。Ofeightfeet。
　　Soc。Andnowtryandtellmethelengthofthelinewhichformsthesideofthatdoublesquare：thisistwofeet—whatwillthatbe？
　　Boy。Clearly，Socrates，itwillbedouble。
　　Soc。Doyouobserve，Meno，thatIamnotteachingtheboyanything，butonlyaskinghimquestions；andnowhefanciesthatheknowshowlongalineisnecessaryinordertoproduceafigureofeightsquarefeet；doeshenot？
　　Men。Yes。
　　Soc。Anddoeshereallyknow？
　　Men。Certainlynot。
　　Soc。Heonlyguessesthatbecausethesquareisdouble，thelineisdouble。
　　Men。True。
　　Soc。Observehimwhileherecallsthestepsinregularorder。（TotheBoy。）Tellme，boy，doyouassertthatadoublespacecomesfromadoubleline？RememberthatIamnotspeakingofanoblong，butofafigureequaleveryway，andtwicethesizeofthis—thatistosayofeightfeet；andIwanttoknowwhetheryoustillsaythatadoublesquarecomesfromdoubleline？
　　Boy。Yes。
　　Soc。Butdoesnotthislinebecomedoubledifweaddanothersuchlinehere？
　　Boy。Certainly。
　　Soc。Andfoursuchlineswillmakeaspacecontainingeightfeet？
　　Boy。Yes。
　　Soc。Letusdescribesuchafigure：Wouldyounotsaythatthisisthefigureofeightfeet？
　　Boy。Yes。
　　Soc。Andaretherenotthesefourdivisionsinthefigure，eachofwhichisequaltothefigureoffourfeet？
　　Boy。True。
　　Soc。Andisnotthatfourtimesfour？
　　Boy。Certainly。
　　Soc。Andfourtimesisnotdouble？
　　Boy。No，indeed。
　　Soc。Buthowmuch？
　　Boy。Fourtimesasmuch。
　　Soc。Thereforethedoubleline，boy，hasgivenaspace，nottwice，butfourtimesasmuch。
　　Boy。True。
　　Soc。Fourtimesfouraresixteen—aretheynot？
　　Boy。Yes。
　　Soc。Whatlinewouldgiveyouaspaceofrightfeet，asthisgivesoneofsixteenfeet；—doyousee？
　　Boy。Yes。
　　Soc。Andthespaceoffourfeetismadefromthishalfline？
　　Boy。Yes。
　　Soc。Good；andisnotaspaceofeightfeettwicethesizeofthis，andhalfthesizeoftheother？
　　Boy。Certainly。
　　Soc。Suchaspace，then，willbemadeoutofalinegreaterthanthisone，andlessthanthatone？
　　Boy。Yes；Ithinkso。
　　Soc。Verygood；Iliketohearyousaywhatyouthink。Andnowtellme，isnotthisalineoftwofeetandthatoffour？
　　Boy。Yes。
　　Soc。Thenthelinewhichformsthesideofeightfeetoughttobemorethanthislineoftwofeet，andlessthantheotheroffourfeet？
　　Boy。Itought。
　　Soc。Tryandseeifyoucantellmehowmuchitwillbe。
　　Boy。Threefeet。
　　Soc。Thenifweaddahalftothislineoftwo，thatwillbethelineofthree。Herearetwoandthereisone；andontheotherside，herearetwoalsoandthereisone：andthatmakesthefigureofwhichyouspeak？
　　Boy。Yes。
　　Soc。Butiftherearethreefeetthiswayandthreefeetthatway，thewholespacewillbethreetimesthreefeet？
　　Boy。Thatisevident。
　　Soc。Andhowmucharethreetimesthreefeet？
　　Boy。Nine。
　　Soc。Andhowmuchisthedoubleoffour？
　　Boy。Eight。
　　Soc。Thenthefigureofeightisnotmadeoutofaofthree？
　　Boy。No。
　　Soc。Butfromwhatline？—tellmeexactly；andifyouwouldrathernotreckon，tryandshowmetheline。
　　Boy。Indeed，Socrates，Idonotknow。
　　Soc。Doyousee，Meno，whatadvanceshehasmadeinhispowerofrecollection？Hedidnotknowatfirst，andhedoesnotknownow，whatisthesideofafigureofeightfeet：butthenhethoughtthatheknew，andansweredconfidentlyasifheknew，andhadnodifficulty；
　　nowhehasadifficulty，andneitherknowsnorfanciesthatheknows。
　　Men。True。
　　Soc。Ishenotbetteroffinknowinghisignorance？
　　Men。Ithinkthatheis。
　　Soc。Ifwehavemadehimdoubt，andgivenhimthe"torpedo’sshock，"
　　havewedonehimanyharm？
　　Men。Ithinknot。
　　Soc。Wehavecertainly，aswouldseem，assistedhiminsomedegreetothediscoveryofthetruth；andnowhewillwishtoremedyhisignorance，butthenhewouldhavebeenreadytotellalltheworldagainandagainthatthedoublespaceshouldhaveadoubleside。
　　Men。True。
　　Soc。Butdoyousupposethathewouldeverhaveenquiredintoorlearnedwhathefanciedthatheknew，thoughhewasreallyignorantofit，untilhehadfallenintoperplexityundertheideathathedidnotknow，andhaddesiredtoknow？
　　Men。Ithinknot，Socrates。
　　Soc。Thenhewasthebetterforthetorpedo’stouch？
　　Men。Ithinkso。