232–233
Stranger
Str. And furthermore in private conversations, when the talk is about generation and being in general, we know (do we not?) that they are clever disputants themselves and impart equal ability to others.
Theaetetus
Theaet. Certainly.
Stranger
Str. And how about laws and public affairs in general? Do they not promise to make men able to argue about those?
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Theaetetus
Theaet. Yes, for nobody, to speak broadly, would attend their classes if they did not make that promise.
Stranger
Str. However in all arts jointly and severally what the professional ought to answer to every opponent is written down somewhere and published that he who will may learn.
Theaetetus
Theaet. You seem to refer to the text-books of Protagoras on wrestling and the other arts.
Stranger
Str. Yes, my friend, and to those of many other authors. But is not the art of disputation, in a word, a trained ability for arguing about all things?
Theaetetus
Theaet. Well, at any rate, it does not seem to leave much out.
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Stranger
Str. For heaven’s sake, my boy, do you think that is possible? For perhaps you young people may look at the matter with sharper vision than our duller sight.
Theaetetus
Theaet. What do you mean and just what do you refer to? I do not yet understand your question.
Stranger
Str. I ask whether it is possible for a man to know all things.
Theaetetus
Theaet. If that were possible, Stranger, ours would indeed be a blessed race.
Stranger
Str. How, then, can one who is himself ignorant say anything worth while in arguing with one who knows?
Theaetetus
Theaet. He cannot at all.
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