"Hermogenes: I should explain to you Socrates that our friend Cratylus has been arguing about names; he says that they are natural and not conventional; not a portion of the human voice which men agree to use; but that there is a truth or correctness in them which is the same for Hellenes as for barbarians. Whereupon I ask him whether his own name of Cratylus is a true name or not and he answers 'Yes.' And Socrates? 'Yes.' Then every man's name as I tell him is that which he is called. To this he replies--'If all the world were to call you Hermogenes that would not be your name.' And when I am anxious to have a further explanation he is ironical and mysterious and seems to imply that he has a notion of his own about the matter if he would only tell and could entirely convince me if he chose to be intelligible. Tell me Socrates what this oracle means; or rather tell me if you will be so good what is your own view of the truth or correctness of names which I would far sooner hear."