AL. At times I fancy, Socrates, that anybody can know himself; at other times the task appears to be very difficult.

SO. But whether easy or difficult, Alcibiades, still there is no other way; knowing what we are, we shall know how to take care of ourselves, and if we are ignorant we shall not know.

AL. That is true. (...)

ΑΛ. Ἐμοὶ μέν͵ ὦ Σώκρατες͵ πολλάκις μὲν ἔδοξε παντὸς εἶναι͵ πολλάκις δὲ παγχάλεπον.

ΣΩ. Ἀλλ΄͵ ὦ Ἀλκιβιάδη͵ εἴτε ῥᾴδιον εἴτε μή ἐστιν͵ ὅμως γε ἡμῖν ὧδ΄ ἔχει· γνόντες μὲν αὐτὸ τάχ΄ ἂν γνοῖμεν τὴν ἐπιμέλειαν ἡμῶν αὐτῶν͵ ἀγνοοῦντες δὲ οὐκ ἄν ποτε.

ΑΛ. Ἔστι ταῦτα. (...)