Plato, Charmides, section 162b

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[162b] that you heard saying this, Charmides?

Far from it, he replied, for indeed he seemed to be very wise.

Then it is perfectly certain, in my opinion, that he propounded it as a riddle, in view of the difficulty of understanding what “doing one's own business” can mean.

I daresay, he said.

Well, what can it mean, this “doing one's own business”? Can you tell me?

I do not know, upon my word, he replied: but I daresay it may be that not even he who said it knew in the least what he meant. And as he said this he gave a sly laugh and glanced at Critias.

Plato. Plato in Twelve Volumes, Vol. 8 translated by W.R.M. Lamb. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1955.

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