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Lico: A curious young student in Athens.

Socrates: A famous philosopher who enjoys asking questions.

Lico: (Walking through the market of Athens) What a hot day! There are so many people in the Agora today. Look! There is that man everyone is talking about. He is always surrounded by young people. It is Socrates! I wonder if he is really as strange as they say. I will get a little closer to hear what he says.

Socrates: (Looking at Lico with a kind smile) Hello, little citizen. You seem very interested in my feet, or maybe in the dust my sandals are kicking up. Are you looking for something on the ground, or are you looking for an answer to an important question?

Lico: (Surprised and a bit embarrassed) Oh! I am very sorry, Mr. Socrates. I did not want to bother you. It is just that my teacher at school says you are the wisest man in all of Greece. I just wanted to see what wisdom looks like in person.

Socrates: (Chuckles softly) What does wisdom look like? What a fascinating question! Tell me, Lico, do you think wisdom has a color, or perhaps a round, shiny shape like a ripe orange?

Lico: (Thoughtful) No, of course not. Wisdom is in the mind; you cannot see it like that. It is knowing many things, like how many stars are in the sky, the names of all the ancient kings, or how to sail a ship to the island of Crete without getting lost.

Socrates: I see your point. So, if I could count exactly how many grains of sand are in this square and memorize that number, would I be a wise man?

Lico: Well... I suppose so. It would be very hard to know something so complicated!

Socrates: But what use would it be to know the exact number if I do not understand what sand is for or how to build a solid house with it? Do you not think the builder who knows how to use sand to make cement is wiser than the man who only counts the grains?

Lico: You are right, sir. So, wisdom is not just having facts in your head. Wisdom must be knowing how to do things well and what they are used for.

Socrates: We are on the right track, Lico. But tell me something else. Do you see that ceramic jar at that stall over there? Do you think it is beautiful?

Lico: Yes, it has very detailed drawings of warriors and very bright colors. It is a very beautiful jar.

Socrates: And what about that strong horse pulling that merchant's cart? Is it beautiful too?

Lico: Of course! It is a strong, fast, and elegant animal. It is very beautiful.

Socrates: So, we have a beautiful jar and a beautiful horse. But a clay jar looks nothing like a horse made of flesh and bone. How can both things be 'beautiful' if they are so different from each other?

Lico: (Scratches his head, confused) Well... I never thought about it. I guess each one is good at what it does. The horse is beautiful because it runs fast, and the jar is beautiful because it does its job of holding wine without spilling it.

Socrates: Excellent observation! So, could we say that something is beautiful or good when it perfectly fulfills its purpose and helps others?

Lico: I think so! It is a very interesting idea. I never thought that beauty had to do with being useful or good.

Socrates: Do you see what just happened, Lico? You just discovered something new simply by thinking and answering my questions. Would you say that you are now a little bit wiser than you were five minutes ago when you arrived?

Lico: (Excited) Yes! I feel like my mind has woken up! But you were the one who asked me the questions. You are the one who already knew the answer from the beginning.

Socrates: That is where you are wrong, my young friend. I did not give you any answers. You found them yourself inside your own head. I was only like a guide who helped you walk the path of your own thoughts.

Lico: It is incredible! Can we keep talking? I want to know what justice is. My older brother says it is fair that he eats the biggest piece of bread just because he was born before me.

Socrates: (Smiling) That is an excellent topic for our next talk. But look at the sun; it is already setting behind the hills. Your family must be waiting for you for dinner. Wisdom also includes knowing when it is time to go home.

Lico: You are right, Socrates. Thank you very much for talking with me! Tomorrow I will come back to the square with many more questions.

Socrates: And I will be here, waiting for them gladly. Because a life without questions is a life that is not truly lived. See you tomorrow, Lico!