[39a]
Socrates
Memory unites with the senses, and they and the feelings which are connected with them seem to me almost to write words in our souls; and when the feeling in question writes the truth, true opinions and true statements are produced in us; but when the writer within us writes falsehoods, the resulting opinions and statements are the opposite of true. [39b] Protarchus
That is my view completely, and I accept it as stated.Socrates
Then accept also the presence of another workman in our souls at such a time.Protarchus
What workman?Socrates
A painter, who paints in our souls pictures to illustrate the words which the writer has written.Protarchus
But how do we say he does this, and when?Socrates
When a man receives from sight or some other sense the opinions and utterances of the moment and afterwards beholds in his own mind the images of those opinions and utterances. [39c] That happens to us often enough, does it not?Protarchus
It certainly does.Socrates
And the images of the true opinions are true, and those of the false are false?Protarchus
Assuredly.Socrates
Then if we are right about that, let us consider a further question.Protarchus
What is it?Socrates
Whether this is an inevitable experience in relation to the present and the past, but not in relation to the future.Protarchus
It is in the same relation to all kinds of time. [39d] Socrates
Was it not said a while ago that the pleasures and pains which belong to the soul alone might come before the pleasures and pains of the body, so that we have the pleasure and pain of anticipation, which relate to the future?Protarchus
Very true.Socrates
Do the writings and pictures, then, which we imagined a little while ago to exist within us, relate to the past and present, [39e] but not to the future?Protarchus
To the future especially.Socrates
Do you say “to the future especially” because they are all hopes relating to the future and we are always filled with hopes all our lives?Protarchus
Precisely.Socrates
Well, here is a further question for you to answer.Protarchus
What is it?Socrates
A just, pious, and good man is surely a friend of the gods, is he not?Protarchus
Certainly.Socrates
And an unjust and thoroughly bad man
Memory unites with the senses, and they and the feelings which are connected with them seem to me almost to write words in our souls; and when the feeling in question writes the truth, true opinions and true statements are produced in us; but when the writer within us writes falsehoods, the resulting opinions and statements are the opposite of true. [39b] Protarchus
That is my view completely, and I accept it as stated.Socrates
Then accept also the presence of another workman in our souls at such a time.Protarchus
What workman?Socrates
A painter, who paints in our souls pictures to illustrate the words which the writer has written.Protarchus
But how do we say he does this, and when?Socrates
When a man receives from sight or some other sense the opinions and utterances of the moment and afterwards beholds in his own mind the images of those opinions and utterances. [39c] That happens to us often enough, does it not?Protarchus
It certainly does.Socrates
And the images of the true opinions are true, and those of the false are false?Protarchus
Assuredly.Socrates
Then if we are right about that, let us consider a further question.Protarchus
What is it?Socrates
Whether this is an inevitable experience in relation to the present and the past, but not in relation to the future.Protarchus
It is in the same relation to all kinds of time. [39d] Socrates
Was it not said a while ago that the pleasures and pains which belong to the soul alone might come before the pleasures and pains of the body, so that we have the pleasure and pain of anticipation, which relate to the future?Protarchus
Very true.Socrates
Do the writings and pictures, then, which we imagined a little while ago to exist within us, relate to the past and present, [39e] but not to the future?Protarchus
To the future especially.Socrates
Do you say “to the future especially” because they are all hopes relating to the future and we are always filled with hopes all our lives?Protarchus
Precisely.Socrates
Well, here is a further question for you to answer.Protarchus
What is it?Socrates
A just, pious, and good man is surely a friend of the gods, is he not?Protarchus
Certainly.Socrates
And an unjust and thoroughly bad man
