144
Alcibiades
Alc. No, upon my word, I should think not.
Socrates
Soc. For your man was, I presume, not anyone you met, but that particular person whom you wished to kill?
5
Socrates
Soc. And although you might make a number of attempts, if you always failed to know Pericles when you were about to commit the act, you would never attack him.
Alcibiades
Alc. No, indeed.
Socrates
Soc. Well now, do you suppose that Orestes would ever have attacked his mother if he had similarly failed to know her?
Alcibiades
Alc. I do not think he would.
10
Socrates
Soc. For presumably he, too, had no intention of killing the first woman he met, or anybody else’s mother, but only his own.
Alcibiades
Alc. That is so.
Socrates
Soc. Then to be ignorant in such matters is better for those who are so disposed and have formed such resolves.
Alcibiades
Alc. Apparently.
Socrates
Soc. So you see that ignorance of certain things is for certain persons in certain states a good, not an evil, as you supposed just now.
15
Alcibiades
Alc. It seems to be.
Socrates
Soc. Then if you care to consider the sequel of this, I daresay it will surprise you.
Alcibiades
Alc. What may that be, Socrates?
Socrates
Soc. I mean that, generally speaking, it rather looks as though the possession of the sciences as a whole, if it does not include possession of the science of the best, will in a few instances help, but in most will harm, the owner. Consider it this way: must it not be the case, in your opinion, that when we are about to do or say anything, we first suppose that we know, or do really know, the thing we so confidently intend to say or do?
Alcibiades
Alc. I think so.
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