Alcibiades. Certainly.
Socrates. And if they know, they must agree together and not differ?
Alcibiades. Yes.
Socrates. And would you say that they knew the things about which they differ?
Alcibiades. No.
Socrates. Then how can they teach them?
Alcibiades. They cannot.[9]
So little by little, as one question follows another, Alcibiades comes to see that the popular knowledge upon which he depends is a very weak and variable thing. He confesses at last his own folly, and declares his resolution to devote himself to thoughtful study.
[9] From Plato's dialogue, Alcibiades, Jowett's translation.