I have the time and I will try to tell you the whole story, for nothing gives me more pleasure than to call Socrates to mind, whether thinking about him myself, or listening to someone else do so. (58d)
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Socrates surely was a philosopher, although he did not prepare benches or mount a chair or observe a fixed hour for conferences or walks with his students, but joked with them, at times went with some into the army or spent time in the market place, and was finally arrested and drank poison. He was the first to show that life at all times and in all parts, in all that we suffer and do, always admits philosophy. (Plutarch)
***
Go to Socrates, and see him placed beside his beloved, yet not seduced by youth and beauty. Consider what a victory he was conscious of obtaining; what an Olympic triumph! How near does he rank to Hercules! So that, by Heaven! one might justly salute him, Hail! wondrous victor!...By placing such an example before you, you will conquer any alluring semblance, and not be drawn away by it.
Socrates became perfect, improving himself by everything, following reason alone. And though you are not yet a Socrates, you ought, however, to live as one seeking to be a Socrates. (Epictetus)
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...That canting crew,
So smooth, so godly, --yet so devilish too;
Who, arm'd at once with prayer books and with whips,
Blood on their hands and Scripture on their lips,
Tyrants by creed, and torturers by text,
Make this life hell, in honor of the next!
...If I'm presumptuous, be my tongue forgiven,
When here I swear, by my soul's hope of rest,
I'd rather have never been born, ere man was blest
With the pure dawn of Revelation's light,
And take my chance with Socrates for bliss,
Than be the Christian of a faith like this,
Which builds on heavenly cant its earthly sway,
And in a convert mourns to lose a prey...
(Thomas More)
***
It is better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied.
(John Stuart Mill)
