Throughout the Discourses, Epictetus referred in reverential tones to Socrates. Socrates dedicated his entire life in helping everyone he met to lead a more virtuous life. Socrates lived what he preached up until his last breath. The LYSIS has the title 'or ON FRIENDSHIP; Obstetric'.

In the LYSIS Socrates relates how he was taken by some young friends into a wrestling school, where he finds a large and well-dressed company of youths and boys assembled for a sacrificial ceremony in honor of Hermes. He proceeds to a narrative of two conversation which he had with a handsome boy, Lysis, and his friend, Menexenus. The first one is a simple introductory talk on the motives of personal affection, which are surmised to depend on a sense of utility, and therefore on knowledge. The second and main discussion deals with the nature of friendship, and although this relation is in the end left unexplained, we are conducted through a number of speculations whose method and incidental suggestions are of deep interest to the student of morals. It is characteristic of Socrates that he takes the prevalent and accepted vogue of strong attachments between young Athenians of his later days as a means of arousing interest in moral speculation. Socrates' educational method is brilliantly illustrated and recommended by the art of Plato. In fact, the mere tone of Socrates towards the boys is itself a lesson in friendship.

LYSIS is one part of the Loeb Classical Library book named PLATO III LYSIS,SYMPOSIUM,GORGIAS. It is available for around $20. The book was originally published in 1925 and was translated by the eminent scholar, W. R. M. Lamb. A wealthy American named James Loeb began in the early 1900's to commission the leading scholars of ancient Greek and Roman manuscripts to translate into English the classic writings. He had the brilliance to format the clothbound books with the original Greek and Latin writings on the left page with the translated English on the right page. With generous footnotes throughout you get the essence of the original writings. The Greek Classics are all hard bound in green with the Latin works in red. Mr. Loeb donated the Loeb Classical Library to Harvard College which has kept the books in print and has added to the collection.

The books are constructed using traditional high quality workmanship with only the finest acid-free paper and binding materials used. They easily fit in your jacket pocket or purse and will stand up to your repeated readings. By having the original Greek or Latin manuscripts always in front of you, it brings out a natural inquisitiveness and makes you wonder if you have the wherewithal to learn to read them in their original form.