“Yea, by the dog of Egypt, I should greatly prefer a real friend to all the gold of Darius, or even to Darius himself: I am such a lover of friends as that.”
- Source
- Lysis
- Date
- 4th century BCE
- Local voice
- Dialogue speaker · Socrates
- English wording
- Benjamin Jowett — Translator · from Ancient Greek
Meaning of “Yea, by the dog of Egypt, I should…”
Socrates tells Menexenus that finding a genuine friend matters more to him than immense wealth or royal power. The comic oath and comparison with Darius are deliberately extravagant, leading into his admission that he does not yet know how friendship is formed. This is a dramatic statement of what he prizes, not a claim that money can never help relationships.
Where does it come from?
Plato, Lysis, around 211e–212a (opening inquiry into friendship), Socrates addressing Menexenus; Benjamin Jowett English, Project Gutenberg #1579, dramatic text after Menexenus rejoins the discussion. Gold of Darius is a historical royal-wealth comparison and Socrates goes on to question what it means to be a friend. Do not attribute this speech to Plato as personal autobiography.
Why the local voice matters
Jowett English; Lysis; dramatic speaker Socrates, not autobiographical Plato.
