901
Athenian
Ath. What then? He who is indolent, careless and idle will be in our eyes what the poet describedHes. WD 303.:τῷ δὲ θεοὶ νεμεσῶσι καὶ ἀνέρες ὅς κεν ἀεργὸς|ζώῃ, κηφήνεσσι κοθούροις εἴκελος ὁρμήν.—a man most like to sting-less drones?
Clinias
Clin. A most true description.
Athenian
Ath. That God has such a character we must certainly deny, seeing that he hates it; nor must we allow anyone to attempt to say so.
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Clinias
Clin. We could not possibly allow that.
Athenian
Ath. When a person whose duty it is especially to act and care for some object has a mind that cares for great things, but neglects small things, on what principle could we praise such a person without the utmost impropriety? Let us consider the matter in this way: the action of him who acts thus, be he god or man, takes one of two forms, does it not?
Clinias
Clin. What forms?
Athenian
Ath. Either because he thinks that neglect of the small things makes no difference to the whole, or else, owing to laziness and indolence, he neglects them, though he thinks they do make a difference. Or is there any other way in which neglect occurs? For when it is impossible to care for all things, it will not in that case be neglect of great things or small when a person—be he god or common man—fails to care for things which he lacks the power and capacity to care for.
Clinias
Clin. Of course not.
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