που χρησιμεύει στην κατάλληλη ώρα

[Theseus]

Socrates remarked of his stomach that it was 'rather too large for convenience'. The book I am trying to read (!) paraphrases it thus: που χρησιμεύει στην κατάλληλη ώρα. Does it mean that 'his stomach 'is useful at the appropriate time'? δηλ. 'Is large enough for when the occasion arises'?:mellow:

 

[daeman]

...
Yes, exactly, or to paraphrase that: 'comes in handy at the right time'.

However, Socrates' remark is negative, obviously, while this one's positive.

 

[Theseus]

Thanks, Daeman! The original Greek is [Ή τόδε γελᾶτε], εἰ μείζω τοῦ καιροῦ γαστέρα ἔχων μετριώτεραν (Xenophon Symposium 2,18). Your comment about Socrates's remark being negative in the original Greek is excellent. Socrates always seems to have laughed at himself when comments were made about his physical appearance but, as we know, the parody of him in Aristophanes's Clouds as an eccentric sophist hurt him and of course later it was this image that was commonly prevalent and used against him at his trial.