_Pol._ How to be of no estimation? Have they not the greatest power in
cities?
_Socr._ Not, if you mean that to have power is a good to him who
possesses it.
_Pol._ But I do say so.
_Socr._ In that case, rhetoricians appear to me to possess the least
power of all men in cities.
_Pol._ But what? do they not, like tyrants, slay whomever they please,
and deprive of their property, and banish from cities whomever they
think fit?
_Socr._ By the dog, Polus, I am doubtful with respect to each of the
things you say, whether you assert these things yourself, and declare
your own opinion, or ask me.
_Pol._ I ask you.
_Socr._ Be it so, my friend. Then you ask me two questions at once.
_Pol._ How two?
_Socr._ Did you not just now say, that rhetoricians, like tyrants, slay
whomever they please, and deprive them of their property, and banish
from cities whomever they think fit?
_Pol._ I did.
49. _Socr._ I say, then, that these are two questions, and I will give
you an answer to both. For I affirm, Polus, that rhetoricians and
tyrants have very little power in cities, as I just now said: for they
do scarcely any thing that they wish, though they do what to them
appears to be best.
_Pol._ Is not this, then, to possess great power?
_Socr._ It is not, at least as Polus says.
_Pol._ I say not? On the contrary, I say it is.
_Socr._ By Jupiter, not you. For you said that to have great power is a
good to him who possesses it.
_Pol._ And I repeat it.
_Socr._ Do you think, then, it is a good for any one to do what appears
to him to be best, when he is void of understanding? And do you call
this to possess great power?