S. “But possibly true so?”
A. “Of course.”
S. “Now, tell me—a thing is objectively true, is it not, when it is a fact as it is?”
A. “Yes.”
S. “And when it is a fact as it is not, it is objectively false; for such a fact would not be true absolutely, and in itself, would it?”
A. “Of course not.”
S. “Such a fact would be, therefore, no fact, and nothing.”
A. “Why so?”
S. “Because, if a thing exists, it can only exist as it is, not as it is not; at least my opinion inclines that way.”
“Certainly not,” said I; “why do you haggle so, Alcibiades?”