_Soc._ And were we not saying just now that justice, temperance, and the like, were each of them a part of virtue? _Men._ Yes. _Soc._ And so, Meno, this is the way in which you mock me. _Men._ Why do you say that, Socrates? _Soc._ Why, because I asked you to deliver virtue into my hands whole and unbroken, and I gave you a pattern according to which you were to frame your answer; and you have forgotten already, and tell me that virtue is the power of attaining good justly, or with justice; and justice you acknowledge to be a part of virtue. _Men._ Yes. _Soc._ Then it follows from your own admissions, that virtue is doing what you do with a part of virtue; for justice and the like are said by you to be parts of virtue. [Sidenote: But if we do not know the nature of virtue as a whole, how can we know what a part of virtue is?] _Men._ What of that? _Soc._ What of that! Why, did not I ask you to tell me the nature of virtue as a whole? And you are very far from telling me this; but declare every action to be virtue which is done with a part of virtue; as though you had told me and I must already know the whole of virtue, and this too when frittered away into little pieces. And, therefore, my dear Meno, I fear that I must begin again and repeat the same question: What is virtue? for otherwise, I can only say, that every action done with a part of virtue is virtue; what else is the meaning of saying that every action done with justice is virtue? Ought I not to ask the question over again; for can any one who does not know virtue know a part of virtue? _Men._ No; I do not say that he can. _Soc._ Do you remember how, in the example of figure, we rejected any answer given in terms which were as yet unexplained or unadmitted? _Men._ Yes, Socrates; and we were quite right in doing so. _Soc._ But then, my friend, do not suppose that we can explain to any one the nature of virtue as a whole through some unexplained portion of virtue, or anything at all in that fashion; we should only have to ask over again the old question, What is virtue? Am I not right? _Men._ I believe that you are. _Soc._ Then begin again, and answer me, What, according to you and your friend Gorgias, is the definition of virtue? [Sidenote: _The torpedo’s shock._] [Sidenote: Meno compares Socrates to a torpedo whose touch has taken away his sense and speech.]