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Section 129

SOCRATES. You see, Theages, the divine sign has absolute authority over those who associate with me. In many cases, it opposes their association right from the start, and it is impossible for me to converse with them; they gain no benefit from me whatsoever. With others, the sign permits us to associate, but they derive no profit from it. But those whom the spiritual power assists in their association with me are the ones you have noticed; they make swift progress. Even among those who do make progress, there is a difference. Some maintain their improvement firmly and permanently. But many others make incredible progress as long as they are with me, yet as soon as they leave my company, they revert to being no different from anyone else. Let me tell you about Aristides, the son of Lysimachus. He associated with me and made very rapid progress in a short time. But then an expedition occurred, and he sailed away. When he returned, he found that another man, Thucydides the son of Melesias, was associating with me in his place. Thucydides had quarreled with me the day before about some matter of argument. Aristides came to me and greeted me, and after some conversation, he said, "Socrates, I hear that Thucydides is behaving arrogantly toward you, and thinks himself a very great man." "It is true," I replied. "Does he not know," said Aristides, "what a miserable creature he was before he associated with you?" "Apparently not," I answered.