_Philosophy._ I congratulate you, Parrhesiades; you are unanimously acquitted, and are henceforth one of us. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 121: From the "Fisher: A Resurrection Piece." Translated by H. W. and F. G. Fowler.] [Footnote 122: Famous as a mathematician as well as philosopher; born in Samos about 582 B.C. He founded a famous school of philosophy at Crotona in Southern Italy.] [Footnote 123: After Zeno the most eminent of the Stoic philosophers; born in 280 B.C.] [Footnote 124: The guardian of the city of Athens. A famous statue of Athenia Polias of the fifth century B.C. is preserved in the Villa Albani at Rome.] III OF LIARS AND LYING[125] _Tychiades._ Philocles, what is it that makes most men so fond of a lie? Can you explain it? Their delight in romancing themselves is only equaled by the earnest attention with which they receive other people's efforts in the same direction. _Philocles._ Why, in some cases there is no lack of motives for lying--motives of self-interest. _Tychiades._ Ah, but that is neither here nor there. I am not speaking of men who lie with an object. There is some excuse for that: indeed, it is sometimes to their credit, when they deceive their country's enemies, for instance, or when mendacity is but the medicine to heal their sickness. Odysseus, seeking to preserve his life and bring his companions safe home, was a liar of that kind. The men I mean are innocent of any ulterior motive: they prefer a lie to truth, simply on its own merits; they like lying, it is their favorite occupation; there is no necessity in the case. Now what good can they get out of it? _Philocles._ Why, have you ever known any one with such a strong natural turn for lying? _Tychiades._ Any number of them. _Philocles._ Then I can only say they must be fools, if they really prefer evil to good.