Men. Indeed, Socrates, I protest that I had no such intention. I
only asked the question from habit; but if you can prove to me that
what you say is true, I wish that you would.

  Soc. It will be no easy matter, but I will try to please you to
the utmost of my power. Suppose that you call one of your numerous
attendants, that I may demonstrate on him.

  Men. Certainly. Come hither, boy.

  Soc. He is Greek, and speaks Greek, does he not?

  Men. Yes, indeed; he was born in the house.

  Soc. Attend now to the questions which I ask him, and observe
whether he learns of me or only remembers.

  Men. I will.

  Soc. Tell me, boy, do you know that a figure like this is a square?

  Boy. I do.

  Soc. And you know that a square figure has these four lines equal?

  Boy. Certainly.

  Soc. And these lines which I have drawn through the middle of the
square are also equal?

  Boy. Yes.

  Soc. A square may be of any size?

  Boy. Certainly.

  Soc. And if one side of the figure be of two feet, and the other
side be of two feet, how much will the whole be? Let me explain: if in
one direction the space was of two feet, and in other direction of one
foot, the whole would be of two feet taken once?

  Boy. Yes.

  Soc. But since this side is also of two feet, there are twice two
feet?

  Boy. There are.

  Soc. Then the square is of twice two feet?

  Boy. Yes.

  Soc. And how many are twice two feet? count and tell me.

  Boy. Four, Socrates.

  Soc. And might there not be another square twice as large as this,
and having like this the lines equal?

  Boy. Yes.

  Soc. And of how many feet will that be?

  Boy. Of eight feet.

  Soc. And now try and tell me the length of the line which forms
the side of that double square: this is two feet-what will that be?

  Boy. Clearly, Socrates, it will be double.

  Soc. Do you observe, Meno, that I am not teaching the boy
anything, but only asking him questions; and now he fancies that he
knows how long a line is necessary in order to produce a figure of
eight square feet; does he not?

  Men. Yes.

  Soc. And does he really know?

  Men. Certainly not.

  Soc. He only guesses that because the square is double, the line
is double.

  Men. True.

  Soc. Observe him while he recalls the steps in regular order. (To
the Boy.) Tell me, boy, do you assert that a double space comes from a
double line? Remember that I am not speaking of an oblong, but of a
figure equal every way, and twice the size of this-that is to say of
eight feet; and I want to know whether you still say that a double
square comes from double line?

  Boy. Yes.

  Soc. But does not this line become doubled if we add another such
line here?

  Boy. Certainly.