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I should be ashamed if I were present and did not do what I could to
prevent your difference。 And I should do the same if you were
quarrelling about any other art and were likely； unless you agreed on the
point in dispute； to part as enemies instead of as friends。 But now； when
we are contending about a thing of which the usefulness continues during
the whole of life； and it makes an enormous difference whether we are to
regard it as beneficial or not；a thing； too； which is esteemed of the
highest importance by the Hellenes：（for parents； as soon as their children
are； as they think； come to years of discretion； urge them to consider how
wealth may be acquired； since by riches the value of a man is judged）：
When； I say； we are thus in earnest； and you； who agree in other respects；
fall to disputing about a matter of such moment； that is； about wealth； and
not merely whether it is black or white； light or heavy； but whether it is a
good or an evil； whereby； although you are now the dearest of friends and
kinsmen； the most bitter hatred may arise betwixt you； I must hinder your
dissension to the best of my power。 If I could； I would tell you the truth；
and so put an end to the dispute； but as I cannot do this； and each of you
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supposes that you can bring the other to an agreement； I am prepared； as
far as my capacity admits； to help you in solving the question。 Please；
therefore； Critias； try to make us accept the doctrines which you yourself
entertain。
CRITIAS： I should like to follow up the argument； and will ask
Eryxias whether he thinks that there are just and unjust men？
ERYXIAS： Most decidedly。
CRITIAS： And does injustice seem to you an evil or a good？
ERYXIAS： An evil。
CRITIAS： Do you consider that he who bribes his neighbour's wife
and commits adultery with her； acts justly or unjustly； and this although
both the state and the laws forbid？
ERYXIAS： Unjustly。
CRITIAS： And if the wicked man has wealth and is willing to spend
it； he will carry out his evil purposes？ whereas he who is short of means
cannot do what he fain would； and therefore does not sin？ In such a case；
surely； it is better that a person should not be wealthy； if his poverty
prevents the accomplishment of his desires； and his desires are evil？ Or；
again； should you call sickness a good or an evil？
ERYXIAS： An evil。
CRITIAS： Well； and do you think that some men are intemperate？
ERYXIAS： Yes。
CRITIAS： Then； if it is better for his health that the intemperate man
should refrain from meat and drink and other pleasant things； but he
cannot owing to his intemperance； will it not also be better that he should
be too poor to gratify his lust rather than that he should have a
superabundance of means？ For thus he will not be able to sin； although
he desire never so much。
Critias appeared to be arguing so admirably that Eryxias； if he had not
been ashamed of the bystanders； would probably have got up and struck
him。 For he thought that he had been robbed of a great possession when
it became obvious to him that he had been wrong in his former opinion
about wealth。 I observed his vexation； and feared that they would
proceed to abuse and quarrelling： so I said；I heard that very argument
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used in the Lyceum yesterday by a wise man； Prodicus of Ceos； but the
audience thought that he was talking mere nonsense； and no one could be
persuaded that he was speaking the truth。 And when at last a certain
talkative young gentleman came in； and； taking his seat； began to laugh
and jeer at Prodicus； tormenting him and demanding an explanation of his
argument； he gained the ear of the audience far more than Prodicus。
Can you repeat the discourse to us？ Said Erasistratus。
SOCRATES： If I can only remember it； I will。 The youth began by
asking Prodicus； In what way did he think that riches were a good and in
what an evil？ Prodicus answered； as you did just now； that they were a
good to good men and to those who knew in what way they should be
employed； while to the bad and the ignorant they were an evil。 The same
is true； he went on to say； of all other things； men make them to be what
they are themselves。 The saying of Archilochus is true：
'Men's thoughts correspond to the things which they meet with。'
Well； then； replied the youth； if any one makes me wise in that wisdom
whereby good men become wise； he must also make everything else good
to me。 Not that he concerns himself at all with these other things； but he
has converted my ignorance into wisdom。 If； for example； a person teach
me grammar or music； he will at the same time teach me all that relates to
grammar or music； and so when he makes me good； he makes things good
to me。
Prodicus did not altogether agree： still he consented to what was
said。
And do you think； said the youth； that doing good things is like
building a house；the work of human agency； or do things remain what
they were at first； good or bad； for all time？
Prodicus began to suspect； I fancy； the direction which the argument
was likely to take； and did not wish to be put down by a mere stripling
before all those present：（if they two had been alone； he would not have
minded）：so he answered； cleverly enough： I think that doing good
things is a work of human agency。
And is virtue in your opinion； Prodicus； innate or acquired by
instruction？
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The latter； said Prodicus。
Then you would consider him a simpleton who supposed that he could
obtain by praying to the Gods the knowledge of grammar or music or any
other art； which he must either learn from another or find out for himself？
Prodicus agreed to this also。
And when you pray to the Gods that you may do well and receive
good； you mean by your prayer nothing else than that you desire to
become good and wise：if； at least； things