nd yet, added Socrates, if a man being strong desired to be strong,
or being swift desired to be swift, or being healthy desired to be healthy,
in that case he might be thought to desire something which he already has
or is. I give the example in order that we may avoid misconception. For
the possessors of these qualities, Agathon, must be supposed to have their
respective advantages at the time, whether they choose or not; and who
can desire that which he has? Therefore when a person says, I am well and
wish to be well, or I am rich and wish to be rich, and I desire simply
to have what I have-to him we shall reply: "You, my friend, having wealth
and health and strength, want to have the continuance of them; for at this
moment, whether you choose or no, you have them. And when you say, I desire
that which I have and nothing else, is not your meaning that you want to
have what you now have in the future?