Part 100

“If, therefore, it is honourable, have we not already admitted that it is good, for we have admitted that all honourable actions are good.”

“You say truly, and I am always of this opinion.”

“Right,” said I. “But which of the two do you say are unwilling to engage in war, though it is honourable and good?”

“Cowards,” he replied.

“If therefore,” said I, “it be honourable and good, is it not also pleasant?”

“That has been granted,” he said.

“Are the cowardly, then, unwilling to attempt what they know to be more honourable and better, and more pleasant?”

“But,” said he, “if we admitted this, we should destroy our former admissions.”

123. “But what with respect to the brave man? Does he not engage in what is more honourable, better, and more pleasant?”

“It is necessary,” said he, “to admit that he does.”

“On the whole, then, is it not the case, that the courageous, when they are afraid, have no base fear, nor are they inspired with base confidence.”

“True,” said he.

“But if not base, are they not honourable?”

He assented.

“And if honourable, also good?”

“Yes.”

“And are not the cowardly, and the bold, and the mad, on the contrary, influenced by base fears, and inspired with base confidence?”

He admitted that they are.

“And are they bold in what is base and evil, through any thing else than ignorance and want of knowledge?”

“So it is,” he replied.

“What then? Do you call this, through which cowards are cowardly, cowardice or courage?”

“Cowardice,” said he.

“But have not cowards appeared to be what they are, through not knowing what is dreadful?”

“Certainly,” said he.

“They are cowardly then, through this want of knowledge?”

He admitted it.

“But that through which they are cowardly, you have admitted is cowardice?”

He assented.