117–118
Alcibiades
Alc. I would leave it to him.
Socrates
Soc. So you are not bewildered about what you do not know, so long as you know that you do not know?
Alcibiades
Alc. It seems I am not,
25
Socrates
Soc. Then do you note that mistakes in action also are due to this ignorance of thinking one knows when one does not?
Alcibiades
Alc. Here again, how do you mean?
Socrates
Soc. We set about acting, I suppose, when we think we know what we are doing?
Socrates
Soc. But when people think they do not know, I suppose they hand it over to others?
30
Alcibiades
Alc. To be sure.
Socrates
Soc. And so that kind of ignorant person makes no mistakes in life, because they entrust such matters to others?
Socrates
Soc. Who then are those who make mistakes? For, I take it, they cannot be those who know.
Alcibiades
Alc. No, indeed.
35
Socrates
Soc. But since it is neither those who know, nor those of the ignorant who know that they do not know, the only people left, I think, are those who do not know, but think that they do?
Alcibiades
Alc. Yes, only those.
Socrates
Soc. Then this ignorance is a cause of evils, and is the discreditable sort of stupidity?
Socrates
Soc. And when it is about the greatest matters, it is most injurious and base?
5
Socrates
Soc. Well then, can you mention any greater things than the just, the noble, the good, and the expedient?
