Charmides.
Socrates, Charmides.
Are you right, Charmides ? I said. No doubt some would
affirrn that the quiet are the temperate ; but let us see
whether these words have any meaning ; and first tell me
whether you would not acknowledge temperance to be of the
class of the noble and good?
Yes.
But in many actions quickness is found to be better than quietness; e.g. writing, reading, running, etc. But which is best when you are at the writing-masters, to write the same letters quickly or quietly?
Quickly.
And to read quickly or slowly?
Quickly again.
And in playing the lyre, or wrestling, quickness or sharp- ness are far better than quietness and slowness ?
Yes.
And the same holds in boxing and in the pancratium ?
Certainly.
And in leaping and running and in bodily exercises gener- ally, quickness and agility are good ; slowness, and inactivity, and quietness, are bad ?
That is evident.
Then, I said, in all bodily actions, not quietness, but the greatest agility and quickness, is noblest and best ?
Yes, certainly.
And is temperance a good ?
Yes.
Then, in reference to the body, not quietness, but quick- ness will be the higher degree of temperance, if temperance is a good ?
True, he said.
And which, I said, is better — facility in learning, or difficulty in learning ?
Facility.
Yes, I said ; and facility in learning is learning quickly, and difficulty in learning is learning quietly and slowly?
True.
And is it not better to teach another quickly and ener- getically, rather than quietly and slowly ?
Yes.
And which is better, to call to mind, and to remember, quickly and readily, or quietly and slowly?
