And does everyone who listens benefit from what they hear? Or do you find that some listeners benefit while others get hurt? There are both types, he said. So those who listen skillfully benefit, and those who listen poorly get damaged? He agreed. Then is there a skill to listening, just like there's a skill to speaking? It seems so. Look at it this way if you want. Who does music belong to? A musician. And making a statue properly — who does that belong to? A sculptor. And looking at a statue skillfully — does that seem like it needs no skill? That also needs skill. So if speaking well is the job of a skilled person, don't you see that listening with benefit is also the job of a skilled person?
And are all who hear benefited by what they hear? Or will you find that among them also some are benefited and some damaged? There are both among these also, he said. In this case also then those who hear skilfully are benefited, and those who hear unskilfully are damaged? He admitted this. Is there then a skill in hearing also, as there is in speaking? It seems so. If you choose, consider the matter in this way also. The practice of music, to whom does it belong? To a musician. And the proper making of a statue, to whom do you think that it belongs? To a statuary. And the looking at a statue skilfully, does this appear to you to require the aid of no art? This also requires the aid of art. Then if speaking properly is the business of the skilful man, do you see that to hear also with benefit is the business of the skilful man?