Then at this point, my boys, let us take heed, and be on our guard
against deceptions. I will not again repeat that the friend is the
friend of the friend, and the like of the like, which has been
declared by us to be an impossibility; but, in order that this new
statement may not delude us, let us attentively examine another point,
which I will proceed to explain: Medicine, as we were saying, is a
friend, dear to us for the sake of health?
Yes.
And health is also dear?
Certainly.
And if dear, then dear for the sake of something?
Yes.
And surely this object must also be dear, as is implied in our
previous admissions?
Yes.
And that something dear involves something else dear?
Yes.
But then, proceeding in this way, shall we not arrive at some
first principle of friendship or dearness which is not capable of
being referred to any other, for the sake of which, as we maintain,
all other things are dear, and, having there arrived, we shall stop?
True.
My fear is that all those other things, which, as we say, are dear
for the sake of another, are illusions and deceptions only, but
where that first principle is, there is the true ideal of
friendship. Let me put the matter thus: Suppose the case of a great
treasure (this may be a son, who is more precious to his father than
all his other treasures); would not the father, who values his son
above all things, value other things also for the sake of his son? I
mean, for instance, if he knew that his son had drunk hemlock, and the
father thought that wine would save him, he would value the wine?
He would.
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