Socrates - Plato's The Rebublic

For I am at the beginning of this great piece of literature, a conversational debate between 'just' and 'wise' men in tunics. Socrates is the narrator in the battle between his chums, discussing everything and more about the ideal community and the individual within it.

"For in a city of good men there might well be as much competition to avoid power as there now is to get it..." - Socrates narrating in Plato's, The Republik.

I am more than laughing whilst reading this. It is so strange to hear these mean having 'philosophic' conversations that more than once border on just a more 'adult' childish version of 'I told you so' or just sheer stubborn arrogance and not wanting to be seen to be wrong, at any expense. For example...

'You think my question were deliberately framed to distort your argument?" says Socrates.
"I know perfectly well they were. But they won't get you anywhere; you can't fool me, and if you don't you won't be able to crush me in argument."
'My dear chap, I wouldn't dream of trying," I said.

A laugh a minute. Although I doubt that I have the right head on and am doing it a huge injustice. Clearly it's not a comedy, with questions such as:

What is knowledge?
What is reality?
The ideal leader? (Who is apparently a Philosophy trained leader)

Seriously though, I am hooked. It conjures up so many questions, thoughts and ideas, not a 'easy read' by any stretch of the imagination but worth the effort Actually, it's not really effort, not sure what it is, just very insightful and intriguing.

A classic line...

'You're being tiresome, Socrates," he returned, "and taking my definition in the sense most likely to damage it."
"I assure I am not," I said.