PHILEBUS: Do not perplex us, and keep asking questions of us to which we have not as yet any sufficient answer to give; let us not imagine that a general puzzling of us all is to be the end of our discussion, but if we are unable to answer, do you answer, as you have promised. Consider, then, whether you will divide pleasure and knowledge according to their kinds; or you may let the matter drop, if you are able and willing to find some other mode of clearing up our controversy. SOCRATES: If you say that, I have nothing to apprehend, for the words 'if you are willing' dispel all my fear; and, moreover, a god seems to have recalled something to my mind. PHILEBUS: What is that? SOCRATES: I remember to have heard long ago certain discussions about pleasure and wisdom, whether awake or in a dream I cannot tell; they were to the effect that neither the one nor the other of them was the good, but some third thing, which was different from them, and better than either. If this be clearly established, then pleasure will lose the victory, for the good will cease to be identified with her:--Am I not right? PROTARCHUS: Yes. SOCRATES: And there will cease to be any need of distinguishing the kinds of pleasures, as I am inclined to think, but this will appear more clearly as we proceed. PROTARCHUS: Capital, Socrates; pray go on as you propose. SOCRATES: But, let us first agree on some little points. PROTARCHUS: What are they? SOCRATES: Is the good perfect or imperfect? PROTARCHUS: The most perfect, Socrates, of all things. SOCRATES: And is the good sufficient? PROTARCHUS: Yes, certainly, and in a degree surpassing all other things. SOCRATES: And no one can deny that all percipient beings desire and hunt after good, and are eager to catch and have the good about them, and care not for the attainment of anything which is not accompanied by good. PROTARCHUS: That is undeniable. SOCRATES: Now let us part off the life of pleasure from the life of wisdom, and pass them in review. PROTARCHUS: How do you mean? SOCRATES: Let there be no wisdom in the life of pleasure, nor any pleasure in the life of wisdom, for if either of them is the chief good, it cannot be supposed to want anything, but if either is shown to want anything, then it cannot really be the chief good. PROTARCHUS: Impossible. SOCRATES: And will you help us to test these two lives? PROTARCHUS: Certainly. SOCRATES: Then answer. PROTARCHUS: Ask. SOCRATES: Would you choose, Protarchus, to live all your life long in the enjoyment of the greatest pleasures? PROTARCHUS: Certainly I should. SOCRATES: Would you consider that there was still anything wanting to you if you had perfect pleasure? PROTARCHUS: Certainly not. SOCRATES: Reflect; would you not want wisdom and intelligence and forethought, and similar qualities? would you not at any rate want sight? PROTARCHUS: Why should I? Having pleasure I should have all things.