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acknowledgment that I am a Sophist。 And I have been now many years
in the profession…for all my years when added up are many： there is no
one here present of whom I might not be the father。 Wherefore I should
much prefer conversing with you； if you want to speak with me； in
the presence of the company。
As I suspected that he would like to have a little display and
glorification in the presence of Prodicus and Hippias； and would
gladly show us to them in the light of his admirers； I said： But why
should we not summon Prodicus and Hippias and their friends to hear
us？
Very good； he said。
Suppose； said Callias； that we hold a council in which you may sit
and discuss。…This was agreed upon； and great delight was felt at the
prospect of hearing wise men talk； we ourselves took the chairs and
benches； and arranged them by Hippias； where the other benches had
been already placed。 Meanwhile Callias and Alcibiades got Prodicus out
of bed and brought in him and his companions。
When we were all seated； Protagoras said： Now that the company are
assembled； Socrates； tell me about the youngman of whom you were
just now speaking。
I replied： I will begin again at the same point； Protagoras； and
tell you once more the purport of my visit： this is my friend
Hippocrates； who is desirous of making your acquaintance； he would
like to know what will happen to him if he associates with you。 I have
no more to say。
Protagoras answered： Young man； if you associate with me； on the
very first day you will return home a better man than you came； and
better on the second day than on the first； and better every day
than you were on the day before。
When I heard this； I said： Protagoras； I do not at all wonder at
hearing you say this； even at your age； and with all your wisdom； if
any one were to teach you what you did not know before； you would
become better no doubt： but please to answer in a different way…I will
explain how by an example。 Let me suppose that Hippocrates； instead of
desiring your acquaintance； wished to become acquainted with the young
man Zeuxippus of Heraclea； who has lately been in Athens； and he had
come to him as he has come to you； and had heard him say； as he has
heard you say； that every day he would grow and become better if he
associated with him： and then suppose that he were to ask him； 〃In
what shall I become better； and in what shall I grow？〃…Zeuxippus would
answer； 〃In painting。〃 And suppose that he went to Orthagoras the
Theban； and heard him say the same thing； and asked him； 〃In what
shall I become better day by day？〃 he would reply； 〃In flute…playing。〃
Now I want you to make the same sort of answer to this young man and
to me； who am asking questions on his account。 When you say that on
the first day on which he associates with you he will return home a
better man； and on every day will grow in like manner；…In what；
Protagoras； will he be better？ and about what？
When Protagoras heard me say this； he replied： You ask questions
fairly； and I like to answer a question which is fairly put。 If
Hippocrates comes to me he will not experience the sort of drudgery
with which other Sophists are in the habit of insulting their
pupils； who； when they have just escaped from the arts； are taken
and driven back into them by these teachers； and made to learn
calculation； and astronomy； and geometry； and music （he gave a look at
Hippias as he said this）； but if he comes to me； he will learn that
which he comes to learn。 And this is prudence in affairs private as
well as public； he will learn to order his own house in the best
manner； and he will be able to speak and act for the best in the
affairs of the state。
Do I understand you； I said； and is your meaning that you teach
the art of politics； and that you promise to make men good citizens？
That； Socrates； is exactly the profession which I make。
Then； I said； you do indeed possess a noble art； if there is no
mistake about this； for I will freely confess to you； Protagoras； that
I have a doubt whether this art is capable of being taught； and yet
I know not how to disbelieve your assertion。 And I ought to tell you
why I am of opinion that this art cannot be taught or communicated
by man to man。 I say that the Athenians are an understanding people；
and indeed they are esteemed to be such by the other Hellenes。 Now I
observe that when we are met together in the assembly； and the
matter in hand relates to building； the builders are summoned as
advisers； when the question is one of shipbuilding； then the
ship…wrights； and the like of other arts which they think capable of
being taught and learned。 And if some person offers to give them
advice who is not supposed by them to have any skill in the art；
even though he be good…looking； and rich； and noble； they will not
listen to him； but laugh and hoot at him； until either he is clamoured
down and retires of himself； or if he persist； he is dragged away or
put out by the constables at the command of the prytanes。 This is
their way of behaving about professors of the arts。 But when the
question is an affair of state； then everybody is free to have a
say…carpenter； tinker； cobbler； sailor； passenger； rich and poor； high
and low…any one who likes gets up； and no one reproaches him； as in
the former case； with not having learned； and having no teacher； and
yet giving advice； evidently because they are under the impression
that this sort of knowledge cannot be taught。 And not only is this
true of the state； but of individuals； the best and wisest of our
citizens are unable to impart their political wisdom to others： as for
example； Pericles； the father of these young men； who gave them
excellent instruction in all that could be learned from masters； in
his own department of politics neither taught them； nor gave them
teachers； but they were allowed to wander at their own free will in
a sort of hope that they would light upon virtue of their own
accord。 Or take another example： there was Cleinias the younger
brother of our friend Alcibiades； of whom this very same Pericles
was the guardian； and he being in fact under the apprehension that
Cleinias would be corrupted by Alcibiades； took him away； and placed
him in the house of Ariphron to be educated； but before six months had
elapsed； Ariphron sent him back； not knowing what to do with him。
And I could mention numberless other instances of persons who were
good themselves； and never yet made any one else good； whether
friend or stranger。 Now I； Protagoras； having these examples before
me； am inclined to think that virtue cannot be taught。 But then again；
when I listen to your words； I waver； and am disposed to think that
there must be something in what you say； beca