110–111
Socrates
Soc. They are no very serious teachers with whom you take refuge, if you ascribe it to the many!
Alcibiades
Alc. Why, are they not competent to teach?
Socrates
Soc. Not how to play, or not to play, draughts; and yet that, I imagine, is a slight matter compared with justice. What? Do you not think so?
Socrates
Soc. Then if they are unable to teach the slighter, can they teach the more serious matter?
Alcibiades
Alc. I think so: at any rate, there are many other things that they are able to teach, more serious than draughts.
Socrates
Soc. What sort of things?
Alcibiades
Alc. For instance, it was from them that I learnt to speak Greek, and I could not say who was my teacher, but can only ascribe it to the same people who, you say, are not serious teachers.
Socrates
Soc. Ah, gallant sir, the many may be good teachers of that, and they can justly be praised for their teaching of such subjects.
Socrates
Soc. Because in those subjects they have the equipment proper to good teachers.
Alcibiades
Alc. What do you mean by that?
5
Socrates
Soc. You know that those who are going to teach anything should first know it themselves, do you not?
Alcibiades
Alc. Of course.
Socrates
Soc. And that those who know should agree with each other and not differ?
Socrates
Soc. But if they differ upon anything, will you say that they know it?
10
Alcibiades
Alc. No, indeed.
Socrates
Soc. Then how can they be teachers of it?
Alcibiades
Alc. By no means.
