HIPPIAS (major) by Plato - Complete text

Page 23

Soc.: Then, too, in the same way we say that the whole body is beautiful, part of it for running, part for wrestling ; and again all the animals, a beautiful horse or cock or quail and all utensils and land vehicles, and on the sea freight-ships and ships of war ; and all instruments in music and in the other arts, and, if you like, customs and laws also — pretty well all these we call beautiful in the same way looking at each of them — how it is formed by nature, how it is wrought, how it has been enacted — the useful we call beautiful, and beautiful in the way in which it is useful, and for the purpose for which it is useful, and at the time when it is useful ; and that which is in all these aspects useless we say is ugly. Now is not this your opinion also, Hippias?

Hip.: It is.

Soc.: Then are we right in saying that the useful rather than everything else is beautiful?

Hip.: We are right, surely, Socrates.

Soc.: Now that which has power to accomplish anything is useful for that for which it has power, but that which is powerless is useless, is it not?

Hip.: Certainly.

Soc.: Power, then, is beautiful, and want of power is disgraceful or ugly.

Hip.: Decidedly. Now other things, Socrates, testify for us that this is so, but especially political affairs ; for in political affairs and in one's own state to be powerful is the most beautiful of all things, but to be powerless is the most disgraceful of all.

Soc.: Good ! Then, for Heaven's sake, Hippias, is wisdom also for this reason the most beautiful of all things and ignorance the most disgraceful of all things?

Hip.: Well, what do you suppose, Socrates?

Soc.: Just keep quiet, my dear friend ; I am so afraid and wondering what in the world we are saying again.

Hip.: What are you afraid of again, Socrates, since now your discussion has gone ahead most beautifully?

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Plato : HIPPIAS (major)

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