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describe them as 'romantic' or 'simple…minded；' or； again； as 'innocent' or
'inexperienced' or 'foolish。' You may even find other names； if you seek
for them； but by all of them lack of sense is intended。 They only differ
as one art appeared to us to differ from another or one disease from
another。 Or what is your opinion？
ALCIBIADES： I agree with you。
SOCRATES： Then let us return to the point at which we digressed。 We said
at first that we should have to consider who were the wise and who the
foolish。 For we acknowledged that there are these two classes？ Did we
not？
ALCIBIADES： To be sure。
SOCRATES： And you regard those as sensible who know what ought to be done
or said？
ALCIBIADES： Yes。
SOCRATES： The senseless are those who do not know this？
ALCIBIADES： True。
SOCRATES： The latter will say or do what they ought not without their own
knowledge？
ALCIBIADES： Exactly。
SOCRATES： Oedipus； as I was saying； Alcibiades； was a person of this sort。
And even now…a…days you will find many who （have offered inauspicious
prayers）； although； unlike him； they were not in anger nor thought that
they were asking evil。 He neither sought； nor supposed that he sought for
good； but others have had quite the contrary notion。 I believe that if the
God whom you are about to consult should appear to you； and； in
anticipation of your request； enquired whether you would be contented to
become tyrant of Athens； and if this seemed in your eyes a small and mean
thing； should add to it the dominion of all Hellas； and seeing that even
then you would not be satisfied unless you were ruler of the whole of
Europe； should promise； not only that； but； if you so desired； should
proclaim to all mankind in one and the same day that Alcibiades； son of
Cleinias； was tyrant：in such a case； I imagine； you would depart full of
joy； as one who had obtained the greatest of goods。
ALCIBIADES： And not only I； Socrates； but any one else who should meet
with such luck。
SOCRATES： Yet you would not accept the dominion and lordship of all the
Hellenes and all the barbarians in exchange for your life？
ALCIBIADES： Certainly not： for then what use could I make of them？
SOCRATES： And would you accept them if you were likely to use them to a
bad and mischievous end？
ALCIBIADES： I would not。
SOCRATES： You see that it is not safe for a man either rashly to accept
whatever is offered him； or himself to request a thing； if he is likely to
suffer thereby or immediately to lose his life。 And yet we could tell of
many who； having long desired and diligently laboured to obtain a tyranny；
thinking that thus they would procure an advantage； have nevertheless
fallen victims to designing enemies。 You must have heard of what happened
only the other day； how Archelaus of Macedonia was slain by his beloved
（compare Aristotle； Pol。）； whose love for the tyranny was not less than
that of Archelaus for him。 The tyrannicide expected by his crime to become
tyrant and afterwards to have a happy life； but when he had held the
tyranny three or four days； he was in his turn conspired against and slain。
Or look at certain of our own citizens；and of their actions we have been
not hearers； but eyewitnesses；who have desired to obtain military
command： of those who have gained their object； some are even to this day
exiles from the city； while others have lost their lives。 And even they
who seem to have fared best； have not only gone through many perils and
terrors during their office； but after their return home they have been
beset by informers worse than they once were by their foes； insomuch that
several of them have wished that they had remained in a private station
rather than have had the glories of command。 If； indeed； such perils and
terrors were of profit to the commonwealth； there would be reason in
undergoing them； but the very contrary is the case。 Again； you will find
persons who have prayed for offspring； and when their prayers were heard；
have fallen into the greatest pains and sufferings。 For some have begotten
children who were utterly bad； and have therefore passed all their days in
misery； while the parents of good children have undergone the misfortune of
losing them； and have been so little happier than the others that they
would have preferred never to have had children rather than to have had
them and lost them。 And yet； although these and the like examples are
manifest and known of all； it is rare to find any one who has refused what
has been offered him； or； if he were likely to gain aught by prayer； has
refrained from making his petition。 The mass of mankind would not decline
to accept a tyranny； or the command of an army； or any of the numerous
things which cause more harm than good： but rather； if they had them not；
would have prayed to obtain them。 And often in a short space of time they
change their tone； and wish their old prayers unsaid。 Wherefore also I
suspect that men are entirely wrong when they blame the gods as the authors
of the ills which befall them （compare Republic）： 'their own presumption；'
or folly （whichever is the right word）
'Has brought these unmeasured woes upon them。' （Homer。 Odyss。）
He must have been a wise poet； Alcibiades； who； seeing as I believe； his
friends foolishly praying for and doing things which would not really
profit them； offered up a common prayer in behalf of them all：
'King Zeus； grant us good whether prayed for or unsought by us；
But that which we ask amiss； do thou avert。' （The author of these lines；
which are probably of Pythagorean origin； is unknown。 They are found also
in the Anthology （Anth。 Pal。）。）
In my opinion； I say； the poet spoke both well and prudently； but if you
have anything to say in answer to him； speak out。
ALCIBIADES： It is difficult； Socrates； to oppose what has been well said。
And I perceive how many are the ills of which ignorance is the cause；
since； as would appear； through ignorance we not only do； but what is
worse； pray for the greatest evils。 No man would imagine that he would do
so； he would rather suppose that he was quite capable of praying for what
was best： to call down evils seems more like a curse than a prayer。
SOCRATES： But perhaps； my good friend； some one who is wiser than either
you or I will say that we have no right to blame ignorance thus rashly；
unless we can add what ignorance we mean and of what； and also to whom and
how it is respectively a good or an evil？
ALCIBIADES： How do you mean？ Can ignorance possibly be better than
knowledge for any person in any conceivable case？
SOCRATES： So I believe：you do not think so？
ALCIBIADES： Certainly not。
SOCRATES： And yet surely I may not suppose that you would ever wish to act
towards your mother as they say that Orestes and Alcmeon and others have
done towards their parent。
ALCIBIADES： Good words； Socrates； prithee。
SOCRATES： You ought not to bid him use auspicious words； who says that you
would not be willing to commit so horrible a deed； but rather him who
affirms the contrary； if the act appear to you unfit even to be mentioned。
Or do you think that Orestes； had he been in his senses and knew what was
best for him to do； would ever have dared to venture on such a crime？
ALCIBIADES： Certainly not。
SOCRATES： Nor would any one else； I fancy？
ALCIBIADES： No。
SOCRATES： That ignorance is bad then； it would appear； which is of the
best and does not know what is best？
ALCIBIADES： So I think； at least。
SOCRATES： And both to the person who is ignorant and everybody else？
ALCIBIADES： Yes。
SOCRATES： Let us take another case。 Suppose that you were suddenly to get
into your head that it would be a good thing to kill Pericles； your kinsman
and guardian； and were to seize a sword and； going to the doors of his
house； were to enquire if he were at home； meaning to slay only him and no
one else：the servants reply； 'Yes'： （Mind； I do not mean that you would
really do such a thing； but there is nothing； you think； to prevent a man
who is ignorant of the best； having occasionally the whim that what is
worst is best？
ALCIBIADES： No。）
SOCRATES：If； then； you went indoors； and seeing him； did not know him；
but thought that he was some one else； would you venture to slay him？
ALCIBIADES： Most decidedly not （it seems to me）。 （These words are omitted
in several MSS。）
SOCRATES： For you designed to kill； not the first who offered； but
Pericles himself？
ALCIBIADES： Certainly。
SOCRATES： And if you made many attempts； and each time failed to recognize
Pericles； you would never attack him？
ALCIBIADES： Never。
SOCRATES： Well； but if Orestes in like manner had not known his mother； do
you think that he would ever have laid hands upon her？