WhileSocrateswasspeaking，PythodorusthoughtthatParmenidesandZenowerenotaltogetherpleasedatthesuccessivestepsoftheargument;butstilltheygavetheclosestattentionandoftenlookedatoneanother，andsmiledasifinadmirationofhim。Whenhehadfinished，Parmenidesexpressedtheirfeelingsinthefollowingwords:—
Socrates，hesaid，Iadmirethebentofyourmindtowardsphilosophy;tellmenow，wasthisyourowndistinctionbetweenideasinthemselvesandthethingswhichpartakeofthem？anddoyouthinkthatthereisanideaoflikenessapartfromthelikenesswhichwepossess，andoftheoneandmany，andoftheotherthingswhichZenomentioned？
Ithinkthattherearesuchideas，saidSocrates。
Parmenidesproceeded:Andwouldyoualsomakeabsoluteideasofthejustandthebeautifulandthegood，andofallthatclass？
Yes，hesaid，Ishould。