The Economist | Page 8

would not blame me for sending you where you might get it;
or if you had asked me for water, and I, having none to give, had led
you elsewhere to the object of your search, you would not, I am sure,
have disapproved; or did you desire to be taught music by me, and I
were to point out to you a far more skilful teacher than myself, who
would perhaps be grateful to you moreover for becoming his pupil,
what kind of exception could you take to my behaviour?
[12] Or, "to play the part of {exegetes}, 'legal adviser,' or 'spiritual
director,' to be in fact your 'guide, philosopher, and friend.'"
Crit. None, with any show of justice, Socrates.
Soc. Well, then, my business now is, Critobulus, to point out[13] to you
some others cleverer than myself about those matters which you are so
anxious to be taught by me. I do confess to you, I have made it long my
study to discover who among our fellow-citizens in this city are the

greatest adepts in the various branches of knowledge.[14] I had been
struck with amazement, I remember, to observe on some occasion that
where a set of people are engaged in identical operations, half of them
are in absolute indigence and the other half roll in wealth. I bethought
me, the history of the matter was worth investigation. Accordingly I set
to work investigating, and I found that it all happened very naturally.
Those who carried on their affairs in a haphazard manner I saw were
punished by their losses; whilst those who kept their wits upon the
stretch and paid attention I soon perceived to be rewarded by the
greater ease and profit of their undertakings.[15] It is to these I would
recommend you to betake yourself. What say you? Learn of them: and
unless the will of God oppose,[16] I venture to say you will become as
clever a man of business as one might hope to see.
[13] Al. "to show you that there are others."
[14] Or, "who are gifted with the highest knowledge in their respective
concerns." Cf. "Mem." IV. vii. 1.
[15] Lit. "got on quicker, easier, and more profitably."
[16] Or, "short of some divine interposition."

III
Critobulus, on hearing that, exclaimed: Be sure, Socrates, I will not let
you go now until you give the proofs which, in the presence of our
friends, you undertook just now to give me.
Well then,[1] Critobulus (Socrates replied), what if I begin by
showing[2] you two sorts of people, the one expending large sums on
money in building useless houses, the other at far less cost erecting
dwellings replete with all they need; will you admit that I have laid my
finger here on one of the essentials of economy?
[1] Lincke [brackets as an editorial interpolation iii. 1, {ti oun,
ephe}--vi. 11, {poiomen}]. See his edition "Xenophons Dialog. {peri
oikonomias} in seiner ursprunglichen Gestalt"; and for a criticism of
his views, an article by Charles D. Morris, "Xenophon's Oeconomicus,"
in the "American Journal of Philology," vol. i. p. 169 foll.
[2] As a demonstrator.
Crit. An essential point most ceertainly.
Soc. And suppose in connection with the same, I next point out to
you[3] two other sets of persons:--The first possessors of furniture of

various kinds, which they cannot, however, lay their hands on when the
need arises; indeed they hardly know if they have got all safe and sound
or not: whereby they put themselves and their domestics to much
mental torture. The others are perhaps less amply, or at any rate not
more amply supplied, but they have everything ready at the instant for
immediate use.
[3] "As in a mirror, or a picture."
Crit. Yes, Socrates, and is not the reason simply that in the first case
everything is thrown down where it chanced, whereas those others have
everything arranged, each in its appointed place?
Quite right (he answered), and the phrase implies that everything is
orderly arranged, not in the first chance place, but in that to which it
naturally belongs.
Crit. Yes, the case is to the point, I think, and does involve another
economic principle.
Soc. What, then, if I exhibit to you a third contrast, which bears on the
condition of domestic slaves? On the one side you shall see them
fettered hard and fast, as I may say, and yet for ever breaking their
chains and running away. On the other side the slaves are loosed, and
free to move, but for all that, they choose to work, it seems; they are
constant to their masters. I think you will admit that I here point out
another function of economy[4] worth noting.
[4] Or, "economical result."
Crit. I do indeed--a feature most noteworthy.