Chapter 14 Volume Two, Chapter Seven

Socrates endeavors to teach and exhort his friends to alleviate their friends' needs by supporting each other.It is pointed out in this chapter that any highly educated person may honorably use his talents and achievements to support himself when he is besieged by poverty. He endeavored to help his friends with their ignorance by persuasion; with their poverty by advising them to help each other according to their means.On this point I will relate what I know of him. Once when he saw the sad face of Aristochas, he said: "Aristohas, it seems that you have something on your mind, but you tell your friends about your burden, and maybe we can try to relieve you a little."

"Indeed, Socrates," answered Aristophass, "I am in great distress, since many have fled to Pelaya since the revolution in the city. My surviving sister, niece, , cousins, and many others have fled to me, and now there are fourteen free people in my family alone. At the same time, we have nothing to gain from the fields, because they are all occupied by the enemy. The house can not be taken. to the rent, for there are so few inhabitants in the town that nobody will buy our furniture, and there is no borrowing anywhere. Really, I thought that if a man wanted to borrow money, he might as well go to the street and snatch more Faster. So, it is very painful for me to let my own relatives die, but it is impossible for me to maintain the lives of so many people in this situation."

When Socrates heard this, he replied: "Look at Keramon over there, although there are many people to support, how can he save more money besides providing for himself and their necessities, so that Become a well-to-do rich man, and you also have to support many people, but are you afraid that everyone will starve to death together?" "Of course," replied Aristophass, "because he feeds slaves, and I feed free men." Socrates asked: "Which of these two people do you think is better, your free man, or the slave of Keramon?" "I think it's better to be my free man".

"Isn't it shameful, then, that the man with him who is worse than you is richer, and that you are in trouble with your better man?" "True, but he has artisans to support, and I have cultured freemen to support." "A craftsman, then, is someone who knows how to make useful things?" asked Socrates. "certainly." "Is barley husk useful?" "very useful." "How about the bread?" "It's also very useful." "How about blouses, shirts, capes and vests for men and women?" "All of these things are also very useful."

"Don't those people who live with you know how to do any of these things?" "I'm sure they'll do all those things." "Don't you know that Osycyudes not only maintained himself and his household by making one of these things, barley husks, but also raised a large herd of pigs and cattle, and earned far more than What he needs, so that he can often eat his own food and work for the city, don't you know that Curebos feeds his whole family and lives in abundance by making bread alone, Carrutos Do Demias live well by making cloaks, Menon by making woolen coats, and most Meghra by making waistcoats?"

"Indeed, they lived well; for they kept bought foreign slaves, and could force them to do what they pleased, while I was with free men and relatives." "Then, since they are free men and are your relatives, do you think they ought to have nothing to do but eat and sleep? Do you see other free men living in this way more than those engaged in crafts they know are useful for life?" Live more pleasantly and happily? Do you think that indolence and carelessness are of great help in helping men to learn what they ought to know, and to remember what they have learned, in keeping their bodies healthy and strong, in acquiring and keeping what is good for life? Are human beings useful, but industry and prudence useless? As for those crafts you say they can do, they regard them as useless for life, and never intend to do anything to any of them. Are they learned by applying them, or are they interested in doing these jobs, and wanting to benefit from them? Which kind of situation makes a person more wise, is a person full of food and doing nothing, or engaging in useful activities? Which kind of situation makes a person more righteous , is it work, or is it idle and preoccupied with trying to buy the necessities of life? As it stands, I think you love neither your relatives nor they love you; for you feel that they are a burden to you, and they Feel, too, that you tire them, and the danger is that this may grow so much that the former friendship dwindles; but if you command them, and put them to work, then, when you see them doing you good , you will like them, and when they see that you are pleased with them, they will like you too. When you both recall the past friendship with joy, the resulting camaraderie will increase even more , so that you will be more friendly and more harmonious. Of course, if they are doing dishonorable things, it is better to die, but the fact is that the things they will do seem to be the most honorable and And what is best for women is always the easiest, the quickest, the sweetest, and the happiest thing that men can do. Therefore, without further delay, make them do what is right for you. It will be very beneficial to you and them, and they will be happy to do what you tell them to do."

Aristohas said, "Indeed, Socrates, I think your advice is very good. In the past I did not like to borrow money, because I knew that when I spent the borrowed money, I would not be able to repay it. , but now in order to get the necessary funds to start working, I think I can do that." As a result, the necessary funds were gathered and the wool was bought.The women ate while working while they were working, and only ate dinner after work was over.They were full of enthusiasm, their faces were no longer sad, and the past mutual envy turned into smiling faces to greet each other.They loved Aristophas as their protector, and Aristophas loved them for their usefulness.At last Aristophass came to Socrates and told him of the joyous situation in his house.He also said that what women regret is that he is the only one who is still eating rice.

"Then why not tell them the story of the dog?" Socrates asked. We furnish you with wool, lamb, and cheese, but you give us nothing but what we get from the fields, and the dog, who gives you nothing, gives him your own food. ’ When the dog heard these words, he said: ‘I swear by Zeus, indeed, did I not protect you from theft of thieves and the plunder of wolves?If I hadn't been protecting you, I'm afraid you wouldn't even be able to eat because of the precariousness of your life." It is said that all the sheep agreed that the dog should have priority. Similarly, you can also tell your relatives They say that you are in the position of a dog, their watcher and guardian, and it is because of you that they can work safely and without difficulty."