State, gradual loss, and draining away

Use in the book

Socrates asks whether Aristides’ power left him suddenly or gradually. Aristides chooses gradual loss. At the end of his account of increasing benefit through nearness, he summarises the result of absence: “all that state has drained away”. The demonstrative “that” refers back to his former condition. It is not the introduction of a separately defined philosophical virtue, and no inventory of its constituent knowledge is supplied.

The liquid metaphor makes the loss vivid. What once seemed plentiful and increasing no longer remains. Yet a metaphor does not establish that a literal fluid or substance passed from Socrates into his companion and later leaked out. Likewise, the noun hexis does not warrant importing a developed theory of stable habits merely because such a theory elsewhere uses the same word. Here the condition turns out to be unstable; that is why Aristides exemplifies the class whose benefit fails after separation.

The perfect “has drained away” stresses the resulting present lack. Aristides’ earlier comparison was temporal: before sailing he could engage with anyone; now he flees educated people. The final metaphor gathers that contrast into a single image. The text gives no precise interval for the loss, no named cause beyond the narrative association with absence, and no account of recovery after his return.

The difference between acquisition and retention also matters. He made great progress in a short time, but the power departed gradually. Rapid initial change cannot therefore be treated as proof of durable possession. Socrates tells Theages this before agreeing to begin association, so the new applicant hears a warning about what may happen even after apparent success.

Places to read

1. 130aἀπόσχωνται … πάλιν οὐδὲν διαφέρουσιν — some companions lose their distinction after keeping away
2. 130cἐξαίφνης σε προύλιπεν … ἢ κατὰ σμικρόν — Socrates expressly asks about the rate of loss
3. 130cκατὰ σμικρόν — Aristides answers that the process was gradual
4. 130eπᾶσα ἐκείνη ἡ ἕξις — “all that state” sums up his lost condition
5. 130eἐξερρύηκε — the perfect verb presents it as now drained away

Translation in this edition

“State” translates hexis without importing “habit”, “virtue” or “knowledge” as an unargued technical identification. “Has drained away” preserves the image and its completed present result. The same passage calls the lost capacity “power”, allowing the reader to connect the descriptions without treating them as interchangeable technical definitions.

Drain away — ἐκρεῖν

Drain away. To flow out; the perfect gives a vivid metaphor for the present loss of Aristides’ entire former condition. Attested: ἐξερρύηκε (130e). State, gradual loss, and draining away.

Leave; fail — προλείπειν

Leave; fail. To depart from or fail someone; Socrates asks how the acquired power left Aristides. Attested: προύλιπεν (130c). State, gradual loss, and draining away.

Little by little — κατὰ σμικρόν

Little by little. An adverbial phrase describing Aristides’ gradual loss of the earlier power. Attested: κατὰ σμικρόν (130c). State, gradual loss, and draining away.

State; condition — ἕξις

State; condition. The former condition Aristides possessed; no technical definition as a stable virtue or habit is supplied. Attested: ἕξις (130e). State, gradual loss, and draining away.

Suddenly — ἐξαίφνης

Suddenly. All at once; one proposed manner of loss which Aristides rejects in favour of gradual decline. Attested: ἐξαίφνης (130c). State, gradual loss, and draining away.