Food for the sick
SocratesThen it is to these that the orator we spoke of, the one skilled in the art and good, will look when he applies to souls the speeches he makes, and all his actions; and if he gives any gift, he will give it, and if he takes anything away, he will take it away, with his attention always on this: how justice may come to be in his citizens’ souls and injustice be removed, temperance come to be in them and unrestraint be removed, and the rest of virtue come to be in them and vice go away. Do you concede this, or don’t you?
CalliclesI concede it.
SocratesFor what use is it, Callicles, to give a body that is sick and in bad condition a lot of food, and the most pleasant, or drink, or anything else whatever, which will profit it no more than the opposite would, and, by a just account at least, even less? Is that so?
CalliclesLet it be so.
SocratesFor I don’t think it pays a human being to live with his body in bad condition, since in that way he must also live badly. Or isn’t that so?
CalliclesYes.