But tell me: you say that if a man lays out little and acquires much, that is gain? _Comp._--Yes: but not if it be evil: it is gain, if it be good, like gold or silver. _Sokr._--I will ask you about gold and silver. Suppose a man by laying out one pound of gold acquires two pounds of silver, is it gain or loss? _Comp._--It is loss, decidedly, Sokrates: gold is twelve times the value of silver. _Sokr._--Nevertheless he has acquired more: double is more than half. _Comp._--Not in value: double silver is not more than half gold. _Sokr._--It appears then that we must include value as essential to gain, not merely quantity. The valuable is gain: the valueless is no gain. The valuable is that which is valuable to possess: is that the profitable, or the unprofitable? _Comp._--It is the profitable. _Sokr._--But the profitable is good? _Comp._--Yes: it is. _Sokr._--Why then, here, the same conclusion comes back to us as agreed, for the third or fourth time. The gainful is good. _Comp._--It appears so.[13]
[Footnote 13: Plato, Hipparch. 231 D-E, 232 A.]
[Side-note: Recapitulation. The debate has shown that all gain is good, and that there is no evil gain--all men are lovers of gain--no man ought to be reproached for being so. The companion is compelled to admit this, though he declares that he is not persuaded.]
_Sokr._--Let me remind you of what has passed. You contended that good men did not wish to acquire all sorts of gain, but only such as were good, and not such as were evil. But now, the debate has compelled us to acknowledge that all gains are good, whether small or great. _Comp._--As for me, Sokrates, the debate has compelled me rather than persuaded me.[14] _Sokr._--Presently, perhaps, it may even persuade you. But now, whether you have been persuaded or not, you at least concur with me in affirming that all gains, whether small or great, are good. That all good men wish for all good things. _Comp._--I do concur. _Sokr._--But you yourself stated that evil men love all gains, small and great? _Comp._--I said so. _Sokr._--According to your doctrine then, all men are lovers of gain, the good men as well as the evil? _Comp._--Apparently so. _Sokr._--It is therefore wrong to reproach any man as a lover of gain: for the person who reproaches is himself a lover of gain, just as much.