Plato: Have you met Cratylus, Aristotle?

Aristotle: No. Hello.

Cratylus waves.

Plato: He doesn’t speak these days.

Aristotle: Why not?

Plato: He said you can’t make a statement about anything because it’s all in constant motion.

Aristotle: Well, that’s… Cratylus, Does air, fire and water exist?

Cratylus waves finger back and forth.

Aristotle: I see what you mean.

Plato: So, last time, I was telling you about the Forms.

Aristotle: Yes.

Plato: So, God had ideas. These ideas were put out there. They became the actual things we see.

Aristotle: You left out an important part.

Plato: What’s that?

Aristotle: How?

Plato: They had the power to become…

Aristotle: I can believe it but will others?

Plato: You have a point.

Aristotle: I usually take a while to make a point.

Plato: I know, I read some of your stuff.

Aristotle: Let’s ask Cratylus – What about the “Forms”?

Cratylus points thumb down.

Plato: He says he’s a realist.

Aristotle: I think he disagrees.

Plato: He does.

Cratylus makes okay sign.

Aristotle: What about the Prime Mover?

Cratylus puts his hands up in the air.

Aristotle: What does that mean?

Plato: He doesn’t know.

Aristotle: Does he write?

Plato: Ask him.

Aristotle: Do you write?

Cratylus nods.

Aristotle: Give us something in writing.

Cratylus writes and hands it to Aristotle.

Aristotle: Reads – Know thyself – That’s good.

Plato: He didn’t make it up.

Aristotle: Who did?

Plato: The Oracle.

Aristotle: What Oracle?

Plato: At Delphi.

Aristotle: What else have you got?

Cratylus writes – Nothing in excess.

Aristotle: I like it – it’s short, wise…

Plato: He didn’t make it up.

Aristotle: Oracle?

Plato: I think so.

Aristotle: Have you made up anything?

Cratylus shakes head side to side.

Aristotle: Well you should – write some stuff.

Cratylus gives okay sign.

Plato: He won’t do it.

Aristotle: It’s just advice.

Plato: Will you do it, Cratylus?

Cratylus shrugs shoulders.

Plato: I told you.

Aristotle: I’m putting together something – I’m collecting all the wisdom so far …

Plato: Isn’t that a lot?

Aristotle: You’d be surprised how little there is. I mean good stuff.

Plato: What have you got?

Aristotle: Let’s see … Here it is:

Know thyself.

Nothing in excess.

The tongue has no bones but it crushes bones.

The camel can’t see its own hump.

The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.

Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.

In all things that you do, consider the end.

In giving advice, seek to help, not to please.

Quit while you’re ahead.

Reprove your friend privately, commend him publicly.

Never become a surety for a loan between two others.

He who has learned how to obey will know how to command.

Society is well governed when its people obey the magistrates, and the magistrates obey the law.

Never give a sucker an even break.

Plato: That’s good – now what?

Aristotle: I will try to go further.

Cratylus writes – don’t you mean ‘farther’?

Aristotle: No, it’s further.

Plato: Further, farther, forget it. I hate to hear people argue.

Aristotle: He doesn’t speak!

Plato: You know what I mean.

Aristotle: Cratylus, are you wise?

Cratylus nods up and down.

Aristotle: Are you sure?

Cratylus nods side to side then winks one eye.

Aristotle: He says a lot without speaking.

Plato: You’re telling me?