Greek Texts & Translations

The third time he came to reconcile Dion and Dionysius, but, failing to do so, returned to his own country without achieving anything. And there he refrained from meddling with politics, although his writings show that he was a statesman. The reason was that the people had already been accustomed to measures and institutions quite different from his own. Pamphila in the twenty-fifth book of her Memorabilia says that the Arcadians and Thebans, when they were founding Megalopolis, invited Plato to be their legislator; but that, when he discovered that they were opposed to equality of possessions, he refused to go. ^note There is a story that he pleaded for Chabrias the general when he was tried for his life, although no one else at Athens would do so, 3.1.24 and that, on this occasion, as he was going up to the Acropolis along with Chabrias, Crobylus the informer met him and said, "What, are you come to speak for the defence? Don't you know that the hemlock of Socrates awaits you?" To this Plato replied, "As I faced dangers when serving in the cause of my country, so I will face them now in the cause of duty for a friend."

He was the first to introduce argument by means of question and answer, says Favorinus in the eighth book of his Miscellaneous History; he was the first to explain to Leodamas of Thasos the method of solving problems by analysis ^note; and the first who in philosophical discussion employed the terms antipodes, element, dialectic, quality, oblong number, and, among boundaries, the plane superficies; also divine providence.

He was also the first philosopher who controverted the speech of Lysias, the son of Cephalus, which he has set out word for word in the Phaedrus, ^note and the first to study the significance of grammar. And, as he was the first to attack the views of almost all his predecessors, the question is raised why he makes no mention of Democritus. Neanthes of Cyzicus says that, on his going to Olympia, the eyes of all the Greeks were turned towards him, and there he met Dion, who was about to make his expedition against Dionysius. In the first book of the Memorabilia of Favorinus there is a statement that Mithradates the Persian set up a statue of Plato in the Academy and inscribed upon it these words: "Mithradates the Persian, the son of Orontobates, dedicated to the Muses a likeness of Plato made by Silanion."

Heraclides declares that in his youth he was so modest and orderly that he was never seen to laugh outright. In spite of this he too was ridiculed by the Comic poets. At any rate Theopompus in his Hedychares says ^note:

There is not anything that is truly one, even the number two is scarcely one, according to Plato.

Moreover, Anaxandrides ^note in his Theseus says:

He was eating olives exactly like Plato.

Then there is Timon who puns on his name thus: ^note

As Plato placed strange platitudes.

Alexis again in the Meropis ^note:

You have come in the nick of time. For I am at my wits' end and walking up and down, like Plato, and yet have discovered no wise plan but only tired my legs.

And in the Ancylion ^note:

You don't know what you are talking about: run about with Plato, and you'll know all about soap and onions.

Amphis, ^note too, in the Amphicrates says: a. And as for the good, whatever that be, that you are likely to get on her account, I know no more about it, master, than I do of the good of Plato.

b. Just attend.

And in the Dexidemides ^note:

O Plato, all you know is how to frown with eyebrows lifted high like any snail.

Cratinus, ^note too, in The False Changeling:

a. Clearly you are a man and have a soul.

b. In Plato's words, I am not sure but suspect that I have.

And Alexis in the Olympiodorus ^note:

a. My mortal body withered up, my immortal part sped into the air.

b. Is not this a lecture of Plato's?

And in the Parasite ^note:

Or, with Plato, to converse alone.

Anaxilas, ^note again, in the Botrylion, and in Circe and Rich Women, has a gibe at him.