How we cite our quotes: Line
Quote #4
I'll tell you, then. But these are holy secrets. This morning Socrates asked Chaerephon / how many of its own feet a flea can jump / A flea had bitten Chaerephon on the eyebrow / and then jumped off and landed on Socrates' head. (143-146)
Aristophanes portrays Socrates's ideas and methods as pretty ridiculous—like, does anyone really care how far a flea can jump in flea feet? That's pretty useless knowledge, right? Well, that's Aristophanes's point, it seems—Socrates and his philosophy don't really have a lot of utility.
Quote #5
PUPIL: But the other day he lost a great idea because of a lizard.
STREPSIADES: Really? Please tell me how.
PUPIL: He was studying the tracks of the lunar orbit / and its revolutions, and as he skyward gaped, / from the roof in darkness a lizard shat on him. (167-174)
The portrayal of Socrates gets even less serious and reverent here. Socrates was trying to do some astronomy, but apparently a lizard went poo on his head (and likely face) as he was staring upward. The whole image doesn't exactly scream "great philosopher" to us.
Quote #6
Open up the Thinkery, and make it quick; / I want to see Socrates as soon as possible. / I yearn to learn. Come on now, open up! / Good God, what kind of creatures have we here? (181-184)
Strepsiades arrives at the Thinkery raring to learn from Socrates. As he's demanding that the pupil open things up, he comes across some men staring at the ground with their butts in the air. If you thought Socrates's school couldn't look any more ridiculous… well, you will probably change your mind when you learn that these folks (according to the pupil) have their butts in the air so that particular part of their anatomies can learn astronomy.