_Sokr._--In like manner, bad gain, and good gain, are (both of them) _gain_ alike--neither of them more or less than the other. Such being the case, what is that common quality possessed by both, which induces you to call them by the same name _Gain_?[10] Would you call _Gain_ any acquisition which one makes either with a smaller outlay or with no outlay at all?[11] _Comp._--Yes. I should call that gain. _Sokr._--For example, if after being at a banquet, not only without any outlay, but receiving an excellent dinner, you acquire an illness? _Comp._--Not at all: that is no gain. _Sokr._--But if from the banquet you acquire health, would that be gain or loss? _Comp._--It would be gain. _Sokr._--Not every acquisition therefore is gain, but only such acquisitions as are good and not evil: if the acquisition be evil, it is loss. _Comp._--Exactly so. _Sokr._--Well, now, you see, you are come round again to the very same point: Gain is good. Loss is evil. _Comp._--I am puzzled what to say.[12] _Sokr._--You have good reason to be puzzled. [Footnote 10: Plat. Hipparch. 230 E. [Greek: dia\ ti/ pote a)mpho/tera au)ta\ ke/rdos kalei=s? ti/ tau)to\n e)n a)mphote/rois o(rô=n?]] [Footnote 11: Plat. Hipparch. 231 A.] [Footnote 12: Plat. Hipparch. 231 C. _Sokr._ [Greek: O(ra=|s ou)=n, ô(s pa/lin au)= peritre/cheis ei)s to\ au)to\--to\ me\n ke/rdos a)gatho\n phai/netai, ê( de\ zêmi/a kako/n?] _Comp._ [Greek: A)porô= e)/gôge o(\, ti ei)/pô.] _Sokr._ [Greek: Ou)k a)di/kôs ge su\ a)porô=n.]] [Side-note: It is essential to gain, that the acquisition made shall be greater not merely in quantity, but also in value, than the outlay. The valuable is the profitable--the profitable is the good. Conclusion comes back. That Gain is Good.] But tell me: you say that if a man lays out little and acquires much, that is gain? _Comp._--Yes: but not if it be evil: it is gain, if it be good, like gold or silver. _Sokr._--I will ask you about gold and silver. Suppose a man by laying out one pound of gold acquires two pounds of silver, is it gain or loss? _Comp._--It is loss, decidedly, Sokrates: gold is twelve times the value of silver. _Sokr._--Nevertheless he has acquired more: double is more than half. _Comp._--Not in value: double silver is not more than half gold. _Sokr._--It appears then that we must include value as essential to gain, not merely quantity. The valuable is gain: the valueless is no gain. The valuable is that which is valuable to possess: is that the profitable, or the unprofitable? _Comp._--It is the profitable. _Sokr._--But the profitable is good? _Comp._--Yes: it is. _Sokr._--Why then, here, the same conclusion comes back to us as agreed, for the third or fourth time. The gainful is good. _Comp._--It appears so.[13] [Footnote 13: Plato, Hipparch. 231 D-E, 232 A.]