227–228
Socrates
Soc. On this new showing, everyone appears to be a lover of gain; whereas, by our former way of arguing, no one was a lover of gain. So on which of the two arguments are we to rely, in order to avoid error?
Friend
Fr. What has to be done, I think, Socrates, is to conceive the lover of gain rightly. The right view of the lover of gain is that he is one who concerns himself with, and thinks fit to make gain from, things from which honest men do not dare to make gain.
Socrates
Soc. But you see, my sweet sir, we have just admitted that making gain is being benefited.
Friend
Fr. Well, what of that?
Socrates
Soc. There is the further point we have admitted in addition to this—that all men wish for good things always.
30
Socrates
Soc. Then good men likewise wish to have all gains, if these are good things.
Friend
Fr. Not those gains from which they are bound, Socrates, to suffer harm.
Socrates
Soc. By “suffer harm” do you mean “suffer loss,” or something else?
Friend
Fr. No, I mean just “suffer loss.”
35
Socrates
Soc. Well, do men suffer loss from gain or from loss?
Friend
Fr. From both; for they suffer loss from loss and from wicked gain.
Socrates
Soc. Pray now, do you consider that any useful and good thing is wicked?
Socrates
Soc. And we admitted a little while ago that gain is the opposite of loss, which is an evil.
Socrates
Soc. And that, being the opposite of an evil, it is good?
Friend
Fr. That was our admission.
Socrates
Soc. So you see, you are attempting to deceive me, for you deliberately contradict what we agreed to just now.
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