Follow me then, and I will lead you where you will be happy in life and after
death, as the argument shows. And never mind if some one despises you as a
fool, and insults you, if he has a mind; let him strike you, by Zeus, and do
you be of good cheer, and do not mind the insulting blow, for you will never
come to any harm in the practise of virtue, if you are a really good and true
man. When we have practised virtue together, we will apply ourselves to
politics, if that seems desirable, or we will advise about whatever else may
seem good to us, for we shall be better able to judge then. In our present
condition we ought not to give ourselves airs, for even on the most important
subjects we are always changing our minds; so utterly stupid are we! Let us,
then, take the argument as our guide, which has revealed to us that the best
way of life is to practise justice and every virtue in life and death. This
way let us go; and in this exhort all men to follow, not in the way to which
you trust and in which you exhort me to follow you; for that way, Callicles,
is nothing worth.