socrates: I'm really very grateful to you, Theodorus, for introducing me to Theaetetus. And thanks for the introduction to our visitor as well.

theodorus: You'll probably be three times as grateful, though, Socrates, when they've completed their portraits of the statesman and the philosopher as well.

socrates: All right – if this is what you want us to report as the view of our foremost arithmetician and geometer, Theodorus.

theodorus: What, Socrates?

socrates: That he counted each of the men as equivalent, when their relative values progress by leaps that are too great for you mathematicians with your ratios.

theodorus: That's a good point, Socrates. I call on Ammon, the god of my race, to witness that I admit it. You're quite right to tell me off for my mathematical mistake. Thanks for the reminder. I'll get my own back on you another time, but for now I'd like to ask our visitor to continue his kindness and next to pick either the statesman or the philosopher, whichever he likes, and give us an account of him.

visitor: Yes, I'd better, Theodorus. I mean, once we've undertaken a project, we oughtn't to give up until we've reached the end. But what should I do about Theaetetus here?

theodorus: What do you mean?

visitor: Shall we give him a break and instead get Socrates here to join us in our exertions? What do you suggest?