The Memorable Thoughts of Socrates

Chapter III.  Proofs of a Kind Superintending Providence.—What Returns of Gratitude and Duty Men Ought to Make to God for His Favours.—An Honest and Good Life the Best Song of Thanksgiving or the Most Acceptable Sacrifice to the Deity

As Socrates considered virtue and piety as the two grand pillars of a State, and was fully persuaded that all other qualifications whatever, without the knowledge and practice of these, would, instead of enabling men to do good, serve, on the contrary, to render them more wicked and more capable of doing mischief.  For that reason he never pressed his friends to enter into any public office until he had first instructed them in their duty to God and mankind.  But, above all, he endeavoured to instil into their minds pious sentiments of the Deity, frequently displaying before them high and noble descriptions of the Divine power, wisdom, and goodness.  But seeing several have already written what they had heard him say in divers occasions upon this subject, I will content myself with relating some things which he said to Euthydemus when I myself was present.

“Have you never reflected, Euthydemus, on the great goodness of the Deity in giving to men whatever they want?”  “Indeed, I never have,” answered he.  “You see,” replied Socrates, “how very necessary light is for us, and how the gods give it us.”  “You say true,” answered Euthydemus, “and without light we should be like the blind.”  “But because we have need of repose they have given us the night to rest in; the night, which, of all times, is the fittest for repose.”  “You are in the right,” said Euthydemus, “and we ought to render them many praises for it.”  “Moreover,” continued Socrates, “as the sun is a luminous body, and by the brightness of his beams discovers to us all visible things, and shows us the hours of the day; and as, on the contrary, the night is dusky and obscure, they have made the stars to appear, which, during the absence of the day, mark the hours to us, by which means we can do many things we have occasion for.  They have likewise made the moon to shine, which not only shows us the hours of the night, but teaches us to know the time of the month.”  “All this is true,” said Euthydemus.  “Have you not taken notice likewise that having need of nourishment, they supply us with it by the means of the earth?  How excellently the seasons are ordered for the fruits of the earth, of which we have such an abundance, and so great a variety, that we find, not only wherewith to supply our real wants but to satisfy even luxury itself.”  “This goodness of the gods,” cried Euthydemus, “is an evidence of the great love they bear to men.”  “What say you,” continued Socrates, “to their having given us water, which is so necessary for all things?  For it is that which assists the earth to produce the fruits, and that contributes, with the influences from above, to bring them to maturity; it helps to nourish us, and by being mingled with what we eat, makes it more easily got ready, more useful, and more delightful; in short, being of so universal an use, is it not an admirable providence that has made it so common?  What say you to their having given us fire, which defends us from cold, which lights us when it is dark, which is necessary to us in all trades, and which we cannot be without in the most excellent and useful inventions of men?”  “Without exaggeration,” said Euthydemus, “this goodness is immense.”  “What say you, besides,” pursued Socrates, “to see that after the winter the sun comes back to us, and that proportionably as he brings the new fruits to maturity, he withers and dries those whose season is going over; that after having done us this service he retires that his heat may not incommode us; and then, when he is gone back to a certain point, which he cannot transgress, without putting us in danger of dying with cold, he returns again to retake his place in this part of the heavens, where his presence is most advantageous to us?  And because we should not be able to support either cold or heat, if we passed in an instant from one extreme to the other, do you not admire that this planet approaches us and withdraws himself from us by so just and slow degrees, that we arrive at the two extremes without almost perceiving the change?”  “All these things,” said Euthydemus, “make me doubt whether the gods have anything to do but to serve mankind.  One thing puts me to a stand, that the irrational animals participate of all these advantages with us.”  “How!” said Socrates, “and do you then doubt whether the animals themselves are in the world for any other end than for the service of man?  What other animals do, like us, make use of horses, of oxen, of dogs, of goats, and of the rest?  Nay, I am of opinion, that man receives not so much advantage from the earth as from the animals; for the greatest part of mankind live not on the fruits of the earth, but nourish themselves with milk, cheese, and the flesh of beasts; they get the mastery over them, they make them tame, and use them to their great advantage in war and for the other necessities of life.”  “I own it,” said Euthydemus, “for some of them are much stronger than man, and yet are so obedient to him, that he does with them whatever he pleases.”

“Admire yet further the goodness of the gods,” said Socrates, “and consider, that as there is in the world an infinite number of excellent and useful things, but of very different natures, they have given us external senses, which correspond to each of those sensible objects, and by means of which senses we can perceive and enjoy all of them.  They have, besides, endued us with reason and understanding, which enableth us to discern between those things that the senses discover to us, to inquire into the different natures of things useful and things hurtful, and so to know by experience which to choose and which to reject.  They have likewise given us speech, by means whereof we communicate our thoughts to each other, and instruct one another in the knowledge of whatever is excellent and good; by which also we publish our laws and govern States.  In fine, as we cannot always foresee what is to happen to us, nor know what it will be best for us to do, the gods offer us likewise their assistance by the means of the oracles; they discover the future to us when we go to consult them, and teach us how to behave ourselves in the affairs of life.”

Here Euthydemus, interrupting him, said, “And indeed these gods are in this respect more favourable to you than to the rest of mankind, since, without expecting you to consult them, they give you notice of what you ought or ought not to do.”  “You will allow, therefore, that I told you true,” said Socrates, “when I told you there were gods, and that they take great care of men; but expect not that they will appear to you, and present themselves before your eyes.  Let it suffice you to behold their works, and to adore them, and be persuaded that this is the way by which they manifest themselves to men, for among all the gods that are so liberal to us there is not one who renders himself visible to confer on us his favours.  And that Supreme God, who built the universe, and who supports this great work, whose every part is accomplished in beauty and goodness; He, who is the cause that none of its parts grow old with time, and that they preserve themselves always in an immortal vigour, who is the cause, besides, that they inviolably obey His laws with a readiness that surpasses our imagination; He, I say, is visible enough in the so many wondrous works of which He is author, but our eyes cannot penetrate even into His throne to behold Him in these great occupations, and in that manner it is that He is always invisible.  Do but consider that the sun, who seems to be exposed to the sight of all the world, does not suffer us to gaze fixedly upon him, and whoever has the temerity to undertake it is punished with sudden blindness.  Besides, whatever the gods make use of is invisible; the thunder is lanced from above, it shatters all it finds in its way, but we see it not fall, we see it not strike, we see it not return.  The winds are invisible, though we see the desolations they daily make, and easily feel when they grow boisterous.  If there be anything in man that partakes of the divine nature it is his soul, which, beyond all dispute, guides and governs him, and yet we cannot see it.  Let all this, therefore, teach you not to neglect or disbelieve the Deity, because He is invisible; learn to know His presence and power from the visible effects of it in the world around you; be persuaded of the universal care and providence of the all-surrounding Deity from the blessings He showers down upon all His creatures, and be sure to worship and serve this God in a becoming manner.”

“I am sure,” said Euthydemus, “I shall never derogate from the respect due to the gods; and I am even troubled that every man cannot sufficiently acknowledge the benefits he receives from them.”  “Be not afflicted at that,” said Socrates, “for you know what answer the Delphian Oracle is wont to return to those who inquire what they ought to do in order to make an acceptable sacrifice.  ‘Follow the custom of your country,’ says he to them.  Now, it is a custom received in all places for every man to sacrifice to them according to his power; and by consequence there is no better nor more pious a way of honouring the gods than that, since they themselves ordain and approve it.  It is indeed a truth that we ought not to spare anything of what we are able to offer, for that would be a manifest contempt.  When, therefore, a man has done all that is in his power to do, he ought to fear nothing and hope all; for, from whence can we reasonably hope for more, than from those in whose power it is to do us the greatest good?  And by what other way can we more easily obtain it, than by making ourselves acceptable to them?  And how can we better make ourselves acceptable to them, than by doing their will?”

This is what Socrates taught, and by this doctrine, which was always accompanied with an exemplary devotion, he greatly advanced his friends in piety.

Chapter IV.  Instances of the Inviolable Integrity of Socrates.—His Conversation with Hippias Concerning Justice

Concerning justice, it cannot be said that Socrates concealed his opinion of it, for he plainly revealed his sentiments by his actions, as well in public as in private, making it his business to serve every man, and to obey the magistrates and the laws; insomuch, that as well in the army as in the city, his obedience and uprightness rendered him remarkable above all others.  He fully discovered the integrity of his soul, when he presided in the assemblies of the people; he would never pass a decree that was contrary to the laws; he alone defended the cause of justice against the efforts of the multitude, and opposed a violence which no man but himself was able to resist.  Again, when the Thirty commanded him anything that was unjust, he did not obey them.  Thus, when they forbid him to speak to the young men, he regarded not their inhibition, and when they gave orders to him, as well as to some other citizens, to bring before them a certain man, whom they intended to put to death, he alone would do nothing in it, because that order was unjust.  In like manner when he was accused by Melitus, though in such occasions others endeavour to gain their judges by flatteries and ignominious solicitations, which often procure them their pardon, he would not put in practice any of these mean artifices that are repugnant to the laws, and yet he might very easily have got himself acquitted, if he could have prevailed with himself to comply in the least with the custom, but he chose rather to die in an exact observance of the laws, than to save his life by acting contrary to them, for he utterly abhorred all mean or indirect practices; and this was the answer he gave to several of his friends who advised him to the contrary.

Since I am now illustrating the character of Socrates with regard to justice, I will, at the same time, relate a conversation I remember he had with Hippias of Elis on that subject.

It was a long while that Hippias had not been at Athens; and being arrived there, he happened to come to a place where Socrates was discoursing with some persons, and telling them that if any one had a mind to learn a trade, there wanted not masters to teach him; nay, that if one would have a horse trained up there were persons enough to undertake it; but that if one desired to learn to be a good man, or to have his son, or any of his family taught to be so, it would be difficult to know to whom to apply himself.  Hippias rallying him, said:—“What!  Socrates, you are still repeating the same things I heard you say so long ago.”  “Nay, more,” replied Socrates, “and always upon the same subject; but you, perhaps, being learned as you are, do not always say the same thing upon the same subject.”  “Indeed,” said Hippias, “I always endeavour to say something new.”  “Is it possible,” replied Socrates?  “Pray tell me if you were asked how many letters there are in my name, and which they are, would you answer sometimes in one manner and sometimes in another?  Or if you were asked whether twice five be not ten, would you not always say the same thing?”  “In subjects like those,” said Hippias, “I should be obliged to say the same thing as well as you; but since we are upon the theme of justice, I believe I can now say some things of it, against which, neither you nor any man else can make any objection.”  “Good God!” cried Socrates, “what a mighty boast is here!  Upon my word, Hippias, you have made an admirable discovery! and you have reason to value yourself upon it; for, let me tell you, if you can establish one single opinion of justice, the judges will be no longer divided in their sentiments, there will be no more quarrels, no more suits at law, no more seditions among citizens, no more wars between republics.  Indeed, it much troubles me to leave you before you have taught me this secret, which you say you have discovered.”  “I give you my word,” answered Hippias, “that I will tell you nothing of it, till you have first declared your own opinion concerning justice; for it is your old way to interrogate others, and then to laugh at them by refuting what they have said; but you never make known your own opinions, that you may not be obliged to give a reason for them.”  “Why do you lay this to my charge,” said Socrates, “since I am continually showing to all the world what are the things I believe to be just?”  “How do you show it?” said Hippias.  “If I explain it not by my words,” answered Socrates, “my actions speak it sufficiently; and do you think that actions deserve not rather to be believed than words?”  “Much rather,” said Hippias, “because many may say one thing, and do another; nay, we see that, in fact, many who preach up justice to others are very unjust themselves; but this cannot be said of a man whose every action is good, and that never in his life did an unjust thing.”  “Have you known, then,” said Socrates, “that I have accused any man out of malice, that I have sown dissension among friends, that I have raised seditions in the Republic; in short, that I have committed any other sort of injustice?”  “Not in the least,” said he.  “Well, then,” added Socrates, “do you not take him to be just who commits no manner of injustice?”  “It is plain, now,’” said Hippias, “that you intend to get loose, and that you will not speak your mind freely, nor give us an exact definition of justice.  For all this while you have only shown what just men do not, but not what they do.”  “I should have thought,” said Socrates, “I had given at once a good definition, and a clear instance of justice, when I called it an aversion from doing injustice.  But since you will not allow it to be so, see whether this will satisfy you: I say, then, that justice ‘is nothing but the observance of the laws.’”  “You mean,” said Hippias, “that to observe the laws is to be just?”  “Yes,” answered Socrates.  “I cannot comprehend your thought,” said Hippias.  “Do you not know,” pursued Socrates, “what the laws in a State are?”  “The laws,” answered Hippias, “are what the citizens have ordained by an universal consent.”  “Then,” inferred Socrates, “he who lives conformably to those ordinances observes the laws; and he who acts contrary to them is a transgressor of the laws.”  “You say true.”  “Is it not likewise true,” continued Socrates, “that he who obeys these ordinances does justly, and that he obeys them not does unjustly?”  “Yes.”  “But,” said Socrates, “he who acts justly is just, and he who acts unjustly is unjust?”  “Without doubt.”  “Therefore,” said Socrates, “whosoever observes the laws is just, and whosoever observes them not is unjust.”  “But how can it be imagined,” objected Hippias, “that the laws are a good thing, and that it is good to obey them, since even they that made them mend, alter, and repeal them so often?”  To this Socrates answered, “When you blame those who obey the laws, because they are subject to be abrogated, you do the same thing as if you laughed at your enemies for keeping themselves in a good posture of defence during the war, because you might tell them that the peace will one day be made: and thus you would condemn those who generously expose their lives for the service of their country.  Do you know,” added he, “that Lycurgus could never have rendered the Republic of Sparta more excellent than other States if he had not made it his chief care to incline the citizens most exactly to observe the laws?  This, too, is what all good magistrates aim at, because a Republic that is obedient to the laws is happy in peace, and invincible in war.  Moreover, you know that concord is a great happiness in a State.  It is daily recommended to the people; and it is an established custom all over Greece to make the citizens swear to live in good understanding with one another, and each of them takes an oath to do so.  Now, I do not believe that this unity is exacted of them, only that they might choose the same company of comedians, or of musicians, nor that they might give their approbation to the same poets, or all take delight in the same diversions, but that they may all unanimously obey the laws, because that obedience is the security and the happiness of the State.  Concord, therefore, is so necessary, that without it good polity and authority cannot subsist in any State, nor good economy and order in any family.

“In our private capacity, likewise, how advantageous is it to obey the laws?  By what means can we more certainly avoid punishments, and deserve rewards?  What more prudent conduct can we observe, always to gain our suits at law, and never to be cast!  To whom should we with greater confidence trust our estates or our children, than to him who makes a conscience of observing the laws?  Who can deserve more of his country? whom can she more safely entrust with public posts, and on whom can she more justly bestow the highest honours, than on the good and honest man?  Who will discharge himself better of his duty towards his father or his mother, towards his relations or his domestics, towards his friends, his fellow-citizens, or his guests?  To whom will the enemy rather trust for the observing of a truce, or for the performance of a treaty of peace?  With whom would we rather choose to make an alliance?  To whom will the allies more readily give the command of their armies, or the government of their towns?  From whom can we rather hope for a grateful return of a kindness than from a man who strictly obeys the laws? and, by consequence, to whom will men be more ready to do good turns, than to him of whose gratitude they are certain?  With whom will men be better pleased to contract a friendship, and, consequently, against whom will men be less inclined to commit acts of hostility, than against that person who has everybody for his well-wisher and friend, and few or none for his ill-wishers or enemies?  These, Hippias, are the advantages of observing the laws.  And now, having shown you that the observance of the laws is the same thing with justice, if you are of another opinion, pray let me know it.”  “Indeed, Socrates,” answered Hippias, “what you have said of justice agrees exactly with my sentiments of it.”  “Have you never heard,” continued Socrates, “of certain laws that are not written?”  “You mean the laws,” answered Hippias, “which are received all over the earth.”  “Do you think, then,” added Socrates, “that it was all mankind that made them?”  “That is impossible,” said Hippias, “because all men cannot be assembled in the same place, and they speak not all of them the same language.”  “Who, then, do you think gave us these laws?”  “The gods,” answered Hippias; “for the first command to all men is to adore the gods.”  “And is it not likewise commanded everywhere to honour one’s father and mother?”  “Yes, certainly,” said Hippias.  Socrates went on:—“And that fathers and mothers should not marry with their own children, is not that too a general command?”  “No,” answered Hippias, “this last law is not a Divine law, because I see some persons transgress it.”  “They observe not the others better,” said Socrates; “but take notice, that no man violates with impunity a law established by the gods.  There are unavoidable punishments annexed to this crime; but we easily secure ourselves from the rigour of human laws, after we have transgressed them, either by keeping ourselves hid, or defending ourselves by open force.”  “And what is this punishment,” said Hippias, “which it is impossible for fathers, who marry with their own children, to avoid?”  “It is very great,” said Socrates; “for what can be more afflicting to men, who desire to have children than to have very bad ones?”  “And how do you know,” pursued Hippias, “that they will have bad children?  What shall hinder them, if they are virtuous themselves, from having children that are so likewise?”  “It is not enough,” answered Socrates, “that the father and the mother be virtuous: they must, besides, be both of them in the vigour and perfection of their age.  Now, do you believe, that the seed of persons who are too young, or who are already in their declining age, is equal to that of persons who are in their full strength?”  “It is not likely that it is,” said Hippias.  “And which is the best?” pursued Socrates.  “Without doubt,” said Hippias, “that of a man in his strength.”  “It follows, then,” continued Socrates, “that the seed of persons who are not yet come to their full strength, or who are past it, is not good.”  “In all appearance it is not.”  “In those ages, then, we ought not to get children?” said Socrates.  “I think so.”  “Such, therefore, as indulge their lust in such untimely fruition will have very weakly children?”  “I grant they will.”  “And are not weakly children bad ones?”  “They are,” said Hippias.

“Tell me, further,” said Socrates, “is it not an universal law to do good to those who have done good to us?”  “Yes,” said Hippias, “but many offend against this law.”  “And they are punished for it,” replied Socrates, “seeing their best friends abandon them, and that they are obliged to follow those who have an aversion for them.  For are not they the best friends who do kindnesses whenever they are desired?  And if he who has received a favour neglect to acknowledge it, or return it ill, does he not incur their hate by his ingratitude?  And yet, finding his advantage in preserving their goodwill, is it not to them that he makes his court with most assiduity?”  “It is evident,” said Hippias, “that it is the gods who have ordered these things; for, when I consider that each law carries with it the punishment of the transgressor, I confess it to be the work of a more excellent legislator than man.”  “And do you think,” said Socrates, “that the gods make laws that are unjust?”  “On the contrary,” answered Hippias, “it is very difficult for any but the gods to make laws that are just.”  “Therefore, Hippias,” said Socrates, “according to the gods themselves ‘to obey the laws is to be just.’”

This is what Socrates said on the subject of justice, and his actions being conformable to his words, he from day to day created a greater love of justice in the minds of those who frequented him.

Chapter V.  Of the Mischiefs of Intemperance, and the Advantages of Sobriety

I will now set down the arguments that Socrates used to bring his friends to the practice of good actions, for being of opinion that temperance is a great advantage to such as desire to do anything that is excellent, he first showed them, by his way of living, that no man was more advanced than himself in the exercise of that virtue; and in his conferences he exhorted his hearers above all things to the practice of it, and his thoughts being continually employed in the means of arriving to be virtuous, he made it likewise the subject of all his discourses.