[504e]
to the utmost precision and
clarity of knowledge about other things of trifling moment and not to demand
the greatest precision for the greatest1 matters?” “It would
indeed,2” he
said; “but do you suppose that anyone will let you go without
asking what is the greatest study and with what you think it is
concerned?” “By no means,” said I;
“but do you ask the question. You certainly have heard it often,
but now you either do not apprehend or again you are minded to make trouble
for me
1 Such juxtaposition of forms of the same word is one of the most common features of Plato's style. Cf. 453 Bἑνα ἕν, 466 Dπάντα πάντῃ, 467 Dπολλὰ πολλοῖς, 496 Cοὐδεὶς οὐδέν, Laws 835 Cμόνῳ μόνος, 958 Bἑκόντα ἑκών. Cf. also Protag. 327 B, Gorg. 523 B, Symp. 217 B, Tim. 92 b, Phaedo 109 B, Apol. 232 C, and Laws passim.
2 The answer is to the sense. Cf. 346 E, Crito 47 C, and D, Laches 195 D, Gorg. 467 E. See critical note.
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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