Plato, Greater Hippias, section 290c

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Epinomis, or Nocturnal Council

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[290c]

Hippias
That is easy; for we shall say that Pheidias did right; for ivory, I think, is beautiful.

Socrates
“Why, then,” he will say, “did he not make the middle parts of the eyes also of ivory, but of stone, procuring stone as similar as possible to the ivory? Or is beautiful stone also beautiful?” Shall we say that it is, Hippias?

Hippias
Surely we shall say so, that is, where it is appropriate.

Socrates
“But ugly when not appropriate?” Shall I agree, or not?

Hippias
Agree, that is, when it is not appropriate.

Plato. Plato in Twelve Volumes, Vol. 9 translated by W.R.M. Lamb. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1925.

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