[581d]
will
affirm that in comparison with profit the pleasures of honor or of learning
area of no value except in so far as they produce money.”
“True,” he said. “And what of the lover of
honor1?” I said; “does he not regard the pleasure
that comes from money as vulgar2 and low, and
again that of learning, save in so far as the knowledge confers honor, mere
fume3 and moonshine?” “It
is so,” he said. “And what,” said I,
“are we to suppose the philosopher thinks of the other pleasures
1 Cf. p. 255, note f, on 549 A. Xenophon is the typical φιλότιμος. In Mem. iii. 3. 13 he says that the Athenians “excel others in love of honor, which is the strongest incentive to deeds of honor and renown” (Marchant, Loeb tr.). Cf. Epist. 320 A, Symp. 178 D, and also Xen.Cyrop. i. 2. 1, Mem. iii. i. 10.
2 Cf. Aristot.Eth. Nic. 1095 b 16, and on 528 E.
3 Cf. Blaydes on Aristoph.Clouds 920, and Turgeniev's novel, Smoke.
Plato. Plato in Twelve Volumes, Vols. 5 & 6 translated by Paul Shorey. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1969.
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