Charmides
Charmides is one of Plato's early dialogues, translated by Benjamin Jowett with his introduction. Socrates, just back from the siege of Potidaea, visits a wrestling school in Athens and is introduced to Charmides, a young man of famous beauty, whose guardian Critias claims he is a model of sophrosyne, the virtue of temperance or self-control. Socrates asks him to say what it is. Charmides proposes quietness, then modesty, then minding one's own business, and Critias takes over with self-knowledge, but each definition fails under examination. The dialogue ends in perplexity, and its portrait of Critias and Charmides, later among the Thirty Tyrants, gives it a shadow. It is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, with the opening pages free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about Charmides
Charmides by Plato can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read Charmides online?
Yes. Charmides opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is Charmides free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Charmides is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is Charmides in the public domain?
Yes. Charmides by Plato is a public-domain work, here in the translation by Benjamin Jowett. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Charmides?
About 1 h 27 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is Charmides?
Charmides by Plato is filed under "Philosophy" in the Vinteuil library.
