42 HUMANISM n 



I suppose, Plato, it is conceivable that you could, 

 if you liked, but that it is very likely that you would 

 not like. 



I have already told you that I will do anything 

 short of mixing myself up with a world like yours. I 

 once tried it, soon after I came here, but I soon discovered 

 that Herakleitos was right in thinking that souls retained 

 their power of smell. Indeed, I suppose my nose must 

 have become absurdly sensitive, for I was driven back 

 by the stench of blood before I had got very far into its 

 sphere. I simply could not go on. 



I do not wonder. Things are as bad as ever in this 

 respect, except that we have grown more hypocritical 

 about our murders. But I can tell you how you could 

 not only help me, but even persuade the others. 



How ? 



By useful knowledge. 



Of what ? 



Could you not by some divination predict to me 

 what horses were about to win what races, or what 

 stocks were going to rise or fall how far ? Such know 

 ledge would be most useful and therefore truest by the 

 admission of all men : it would enable me to amass great 

 riches, and if I were rich enough all would believe 

 whatever I might choose to say. Money talks, as the 

 saying is, and none dare doubt but that it speaks the 

 truth. In this manner I might get men to credit the 

 whole story of my visit to you. For my credit would 

 then be practically limitless. 



I suppose you are joking and do not seriously expect 

 of me anything so atrocious. Besides, why should you 

 attribute to me, or to any of those who have departed 

 to higher spheres, any such capacity for knowing what 

 goes on in the world we are glad to have abandoned ? 



I am sure I don t know ; only that is what men 

 commonly suppose about such matters. They think 

 that there is far more education in death than ever there 

 was in life, and that even the greatest fool, as soon as 

 ever he is dead, may be expected to be wise enough to 



