Socrates : Alack then, Alcibiades, for the plight you are in ! I shrink indeed from giving it a name, but still, as we are alone, let me speak out. You are wedded to stupidity, my fine friend, of the vilest kind ; you are impeached of this by your own words, out of your own mouth ; and this, it seems, is why you dash into politics before you have been educated. And you are not alone in this plight, but you share it with most of those who manage our city’s affairs, (118c) except just a few, and perhaps your guardian, Pericles.
Alcibiades : Yes, you know, Socrates, they say he did not get his wisdom independently, but consorted with many wise men, such as Pythocleides and Anaxagoras ; and now, old as he is, he still confers with Damon for that very purpose.
Socrates : Well, but did you ever find a man who was wise in anything and yet unable to make another man wise in the same things as himself ? For instance, the man who taught you letters was wise himself, and also made you wise, and anyone else he wished to, did he not ?
Alcibiades : Yes.
(118d) Socrates : And you too, who learnt from him, will be able to make another man wise ?
Alcibiades : Yes.
Socrates : And the same holds of the harper and the trainer ?
Alcibiades : Certainly.
Socrates : For, I presume, it is a fine proof of one’s knowing anything that one knows, when one is able to point to another man whom one has made to know it.
Alcibiades : I agree.
Socrates : Well then, can you tell me whom Pericles made wise ? One of his sons, to begin with ?
(118e) Alcibiades : But what if the two sons of Pericles were simpletons, Socrates ?
Socrates : Well, Cleinias, your brother.
Alcibiades : But why should you mention Cleinias, a madman ?
Socrates : Well, if Cleinias is mad and the two sons of Pericles were simpletons, what reason are we to assign, in your case, for his allowing you to be in your present condition ?
Alcibiades : I believe I am myself to blame for not attending to him.
(119a) Socrates : But tell me of any other Athenian or foreigner, slave or freeman, who is accounted to have become wiser through converse with Pericles ; as I can tell you that Pythodorus son of Isolochus, and Callias, son of Calliades, became through that of Zeno ; each of them has paid Zeno a hundred minae, and has become both wise and distinguished.
Alcibiades : Well, upon my word, I cannot.