S. “Let us see. Is not Zeus more perfect than all other beings?”
A. “Certainly, if it be true that, as they say, the perfection of each kind of being is derived from him; he must therefore be himself more perfect than any one of those perfections.”
S. “Well argued. Therefore, if he conceived of himself, his conception of himself would be more perfect than that of any man concerning him?”
A. “Assuredly; if he have that faculty, he must needs have it in perfection.”
S. “Suppose, then, that he conceived of one of his own properties, such as his justice; how large would that perfect conception of his be?”
A. “But how can I tell, Socrates?”
S. “My good friend, would it not be exactly commensurate with that justice of his?”
A. “How then?”
S. “Wherein consists the perfection of any conception, save in this, that it be the exact copy of that whereof it is conceived, and neither greater nor less?”
A. “I see now.”