109–110
Socrates
Soc. How now, friend Alcibiades? Have you overlooked your own ignorance of this matter, or have I overlooked Cf. above, Plat. Alc.1 106e. your learning it and taking lessons of a master who taught you to distinguish the more just and the more unjust? And who is he? Inform me in my turn, in order that you may introduce me to him as another pupil.
Alcibiades
Alc. You are joking, Socrates.
20
Socrates
Soc. No, I swear by our common God of Friendship, whose name I would by no means take in vain. Come, if you can, tell me who the man is.
Alcibiades
Alc. But what if I cannot? Do you think I could not know about what is just and unjust in any other way?
Socrates
Soc. Yes, you might, supposing you discovered it.
Alcibiades
Alc. But do you not think I might discover it?
Socrates
Soc. Yes, quite so, if you inquired.
25
Alcibiades
Alc. And do you not think I might inquire?
Socrates
Soc. I do, if you thought you did not know.
Alcibiades
Alc. And was there not a time when I held that view?
Socrates
Soc. Well spoken. Then can you tell me at what time it was that you thought you did not know what is just and unjust? Pray, was it a year ago that you were inquiring, and thought you did not know? Or did you think you knew? Please answer truly, that our debates may not be futile.
Alcibiades
Alc. Well, I thought I knew.
Socrates
Soc. And two years, and three years, and four years back, were you not of the same mind?
Socrates
Soc. But, you see, before that time you were a child, were you not?
5
Socrates
Soc. So I know well enough that then you thought you knew.
Alcibiades
Alc. How do you know it so well?
