I was clearing out some old posts, on an old blog, and found this amusing excerpt from Plato’s Alcibiades. It is, I think, the only funny thing I’ve come across in Plato, though I’m unsure if he intended it so:

SOCRATES: I think we can be pretty sure that someone understands something when he can show that he has made someone else understand it.

ALCIBIADES: I agree.

SOCRATES: Well then, can you tell me who Pericles has made into an expert? Shall we start with his sons?

ALCIBIADES: But Socrates, both of his sons turned out to be idiots.

SOCRATES: What about Clinias, your brother?

ALCIBIADES: There’s no point talking about him – he’s a madman.

SOCRATES: Well then, since Clinias is mad and Pericles’ sons were idiots, what shall we say is the reason that he allowed you to be in the state you’re in?

ALCIBIADES: I suppose it’s because I didn’t really pay attention.