[366b]
Socrates
And when you say that the false are powerful and wise for falsehood, do you mean that they have power to utter falsehoods if they like, or that they are powerless in respect to the falsehoods which they utter?Hippias
That they have power.Socrates
In short, then, the false are those who are wise and powerful in uttering falsehoods.Hippias
Yes.Socrates
A man, then, who has not the power to utter falsehoods and is ignorant would not be false.Hippias
That is true.Socrates
Well, but every man has power who does what he wishes at the time when he wishes;
And when you say that the false are powerful and wise for falsehood, do you mean that they have power to utter falsehoods if they like, or that they are powerless in respect to the falsehoods which they utter?Hippias
That they have power.Socrates
In short, then, the false are those who are wise and powerful in uttering falsehoods.Hippias
Yes.Socrates
A man, then, who has not the power to utter falsehoods and is ignorant would not be false.Hippias
That is true.Socrates
Well, but every man has power who does what he wishes at the time when he wishes;
