4
Cynic Well, consider the purpose of anything we require; the purpose of a house is protection?
4
Lycinus Yes.
4
Cynic Clothing—what is that for? protection too, I think.
4
Lycinus Yes.
4
Cynic But now, pray, what is the purpose of the protection, in turn? the better condition of the protected, I presume.
4
Lycinus I agree.
4
Cynic Then do you think my feet are in worse condition than yours?
4
Lycinus I cannot say.
4
Cynic Oh, yes; look at it this way;; what have feet to do?
4
Lycinus Walk.
4
Cynic And do you think my feet walk worse than yours, or than the average man’s?
4
Lycinus Oh, not that, I dare say.
4
Cynic Then they are not in worse condition, if they do their work as well.
4
Lycinus That may be so.
4
Cynic So it appears that, as far as feet go, I am in no worse condition than other people.
4
Lycinus No, I do not think you are.
4
Cynic Well, the rest of my body, then? If it is in worse condition, it must be weaker, strength being the virtue of the body. Is mine weaker?
4
Lycinus Not that I see.
4
Cynic Consequently, neither my feet nor the rest of my body need protection, it seems; if they did, they would be in bad condition; for want is always an evil, and deteriorates the thing concerned. But again, there is no sign, either, of my body’s being nourished the worse for its nourishment’s being of a common sort.
4
Lycinus None whatever.
