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Section 20

Indeed, there is another wise man here from Paros, who I learned was in town. For I happened to meet a man who has spent more money on sophists than all the others combined—Callias, the son of Hipponicus. I asked him (for he has two sons): "Callias," I said, "if your two sons were colts or calves, we could find and hire an overseer for them who would make them fine and good in their proper virtue, and he would be a horse trainer or a farmer. But since they are human beings, whom do you intend to hire as an overseer for them? Who is knowledgeable in such virtue, the virtue of a human being and a citizen? I assume you have considered this since you have sons. Is there anyone," I asked, "or not?" "Certainly," he said. "Who is he," I asked, "and where is he from, and for how much does he teach?" "Evenus, Socrates," he said. "From Paros, for five minae." And I considered Evenus blessed, if he truly possesses this art and teaches it so suitably. As for me, I would pride myself and put on airs if I knew these things. But the truth is, I do not know them, men of Athens. Perhaps one of you might interrupt and say, "But Socrates, what is your occupation? Where did these slanders against you come from? For surely all this rumor and talk would not have arisen if you were doing nothing out of the ordinary, but only if you were doing something different from most people. Tell us what it is, so that we do not judge you rashly." The man who says this seems to me to be speaking justly, and I will try to show you what has caused my reputation and the slander against me. Listen, then. And perhaps some of you will think I am joking, but rest assured, I will tell you the whole truth. I have gained this reputation, men of Athens, from nothing else but a certain kind of wisdom. What kind of wisdom is this? Perhaps it is merely human wisdom. For in this, I really might be wise. The men I just mentioned might be wise in some wisdom greater than human, or I don't know what to call it. I certainly do not know it, and whoever says I do is lying and speaking to slander me. And do not make a disturbance, men of Athens, even if I seem to be boasting to you. For the word I shall speak is not my own; I shall refer you to a speaker worthy of your trust. Concerning my wisdom, whether it is wisdom at all and of what kind, I shall offer you the god at Delphi as a witness.