_Gorg._ There are some answers, Socrates, which must necessarily be made at length: however, I will endeavour to make them as short as possible. For this is one of the things which I profess, that no one can say the same things in fewer words than me. 8. _Socr._ There is need of this now, Gorgias; give me therefore a specimen of this very thing, conciseness of speech, and of prolixity at some other time. _Gorg._ I will do so; and you will admit that you never heard any one speak more concisely. _Socr._ Well then, since you say that you are skilled in the art of rhetoric, and that you can teach another this art, tell me about what is rhetoric employed? just as the art of weaving is employed in the making of garments, is it not so? _Gorg._ It is. _Socr._ And is not music also employed in the composing of melodies? _Gorg._ Yes. _Socr._ By Juno, Gorgias, I admire your answers, for you answer as briefly as possible. _Gorg._ I think, Socrates, that I do this well enough. 9. _Socr._ You say well. Come then, answer me thus respecting rhetoric, of what is it the science? _Gorg._ Of words. _Socr._ What kind of words, Gorgias? Are they such as inform the sick by what kind of diet they may become well? _Gorg._ No. _Socr._ Rhetoric, then, is not concerned with all kinds of words? _Gorg._ Certainly not. _Socr._ Yet it makes men able to speak? _Gorg._ Yes. _Socr._ And does it not enable men to think on the same things on which it enables them to speak? _Gorg._ Without doubt. _Socr._ Does not, then, the medicinal art, of which we just now spoke, make men able to think and speak about the sick? _Gorg._ Necessarily so. _Socr._ The medicinal art, then, as it appears, is conversant with words? _Gorg._ Yes. _Socr._ And those that concern diseases? _Gorg._ Just so. _Socr._ And is not the gymnastic art also conversant with words that relate to the good and bad habit of bodies? _Gorg._ Certainly. 10. _Socr._ And it is the same with other arts, Gorgias: each of them is conversant with those words that are employed about that particular thing of which each is the art. _Gorg._ It appears so. _Socr._ Why, then, do you not call other arts rhetorical, as being conversant with words, since you call that rhetoric which is employed about words? _Gorg._ Because, Socrates, almost the whole[59] science of other arts is conversant with manual operations and such-like actions; in rhetoric, however, there is no such manual operation, but all its activity and efficiency is by means of words. For this reason, I consider that the art of rhetoric is conversant with words, herein speaking correctly, as I affirm. ----- Footnote 59: The expression ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν qualifies the word πᾶσα, “_almost_ the whole,” or “the whole, so to speak.” ----- _Socr._ Do I understand what kind of art you wish to call it? but I shall soon comprehend it more clearly. However, answer me. We have arts, have we not? _Gorg._ Yes.