Soc. I ask then, have you ever heard or seen or otherwise perceived me bearing false witness or lodging malicious information, or stirring up strife among friends or political dissension in the city, or committing any other unjust and wrongful act? No, I cannot say that I have (he answered). Soc. And do you not regard it as right and just to abstain from wrong? (22) (22) Or, "is not abstinence from wrongdoing synonymous with righteous behaviour?" Hipp. Now you are caught, Socrates, plainly trying to escape from a plain statement. When asked what you believe justice to be, you keep telling us not what the just man does, but what he does not do. Why, I thought for my part (answered Socrates) that the refusal to do wrong and injustice was a sufficient warrent in itself of righteousness and justice, but if you do not agree, see if this pleases you better: I assert that what is "lawful" is "just and righteous." Do you mean to assert (he asked) that lawful and just are synonymous terms? Soc. I do. I ask (Hippias added), for I do not perceive what you mean by lawful, nor what you mean by just. (23) (23) Lit. "what sort of lawful or what sort of just is spoken of." Soc. You understand what is meant by laws of a city or state? Yes (he answered). Soc. What do you take them to be? Hipp. The several enactments drawn up by the citizens or members of a state in agreement as to what things should be done or left undone. Then I presume (Socrates continued) that a member of a state who regulates his life in accordance with these enactments will be law-abiding, while the transgressor of the same will be law-less? Certainly (he answered). Soc. And I presume the law-loving citizen will do what is just and right, while the lawless man will do what is unjust and wrong? Hipp. Certainly. Soc. And I presume that he who does what is just is just, and he who does what is unjust is unjust? Hipp. Of course. Soc. It would appear, then, that the law-loving man is just, and the lawless unjust? Then Hippias: Well, but laws, Socrates, how should any one regard as a serious matter either the laws themselves, or obedience to them, which laws the very people who made them are perpetually rejecting and altering? Which is also true of war (Socrates replied); cities are perpetually undertaking war and then making peace again. Most true (he answered). Soc. If so, what is the difference between depreciating obedience to law because laws will be repealed, and depreciating good discipline in war because peace will one day be made? But perhaps you object to enthusiasm displayed in defence of one's home and fatherland in war? No, indeed I do not! I heartily approve of it (he answered).