The old farmer Strepsiad is in debt because of his son Fidippida, squandering money for equestrian sports. Strepsiad seeks help from a neighbor the sage of Socrates; Having come to the thought room, where Socrates teaches young people, Strepsiad asks to teach him tricky speeches and evasions, which would allow not to repay debts. But Strepsiad turns out to be unsuitable for science, and then Fidippid goes to study instead