to be the best.

Soc. Well, granted the man is well disposed to you does it therefore
follow, Ischomachus, that he is fit to be your bailiff? It cannot have
escaped your observation that albeit human beings, as a rule, are
kindly disposed towards themselves, yet a large number of them will
not apply the attention requisite to secure for themselves those good
things which they fain would have.

Isch. Yes, but believe me, Socrates, when I seek to appoint such men
as bailiffs, I teach them also carefulness and application.[7]

[7] {epimeleia} is a cardinal virtue with the Greeks, or at any rate
with Xenophon, but it has no single name in English.

Soc. Nay, now in Heaven's name, once more, how can that be? I always
thought it was beyond the power of any teacher to teach these
virtues.[8]

[8] For the Socratic problem {ei arete didakte} see Grote, "H. G."
viii. 599.

Isch. Nor is it possible, you are right so far, to teach such
excellences to every single soul in order as simply as a man might
number off his fingers.

Soc. Pray, then, what sort of people have the privilege?[9] Should you
mind pointing them out to me with some distinctness?

[9] Lit. "what kind of people can be taught them? By all means signify