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That I learn of others, I replied, is quite true; but that I am

ungrateful I wholly deny. Money I have none, and therefore I pay

in praise, which is all I have; and how ready I am to praise any

one who appears to me to speak well you will very soon find out

when you answer; for I expect that you will answer well.

Listen, then, he said; I proclaim that justice is nothing else

than the interest of the stronger. And now why do you not praise

me? But of course you won't.

Let me first understand you, I replied. Justice, as you say, is

the interest of the stronger. What, Thrasymachus, is the meaning

of this? You cannot mean to say that because Polydamas, the

pancratiast, is stronger than we are, and finds the eating of

beef conducive to his bodily strength, that to eat beef is

therefore equally for our good who are weaker than he is, and

right and just for us?

That's abominable of you, Socrates; you take the words in the

sense which is most damaging to the argument.