11 Unit 20: Meno 86b-c
In this passage, Socrates concludes his account of the theory of recollection and emphasizes the importance of continuing to seek out knowledge.
Σωκράτης: εἰ οὖν ἀεὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια τῶν ὄντων ἐστὶν ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ, ἀθάνατος ἂν ἡ ψυχὴ εἴη, ὥστε χρὴ ἐπιχειρεῖν ζητεῖν καὶ ἀναμιμνῄσκεσθαι ὃ οὐ τυγχάνεις ἐπιστάμενος νῦν;
Μένων: εὖ μοι δοκεῖς λέγειν, ὦ Σώκρατες, οὐκ οἶδ᾽ ὅπως*.
ἐπιχειρέω: to attempt
αναμιμνήσκω: to remind; [passive] remember
ὅπως*: “how” (indirect interrog.)
αναμιμνήσκω: to remind; [passive] remember
ὅπως*: “how” (indirect interrog.)
Σωκ.: καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ ἐμοί*, ὦ Μένων. καὶ τὰ μέν γε ἄλλα οὐκ ἂν πάνυ ὑπὲρ τοῦ λόγου διισχυρισαίμην. περὶ δὲ τοῦδε πάνυ ἂν διαμαχοίμην, εἰ οἷός τε εἴην, καὶ λόγῳ καὶ ἔργῳ· λέγω γὰρ ὅτι νομίζοντες δεῖν ζητεῖν ἃ οὔ τις οἶδεν βελτίους ἂν εἶμεν καὶ ἀνδρικώτεροι καὶ ἧττον ἀργοὶ ἢ εἰ νομίζοιμεν μηδὲ δύνασθαι εὑρεῖν μηδὲ δεῖν ζητεῖν ἃ οὐκ ἐπιστάμεθα.
Μέν.: καὶ τοῦτο μέν γε δοκεῖς μοι εὖ λέγειν, ὦ Σώκρατες.
*ἐγὼ ἐμοί: εὖ δοκῶ λέγειν is implied from the previous line.
διισχυρίζομαι (3rd PP: διισχυρισάμην): to assert confidently
ἀνδρικός, -ή, -όν: brave, courageous
ἀργός, -όν: lazy
διισχυρίζομαι (3rd PP: διισχυρισάμην): to assert confidently
ἀνδρικός, -ή, -όν: brave, courageous
ἀργός, -όν: lazy
