Virtue and Integrity – Selections from “The Apology of Socrates” by Plato (vegetarian), Part 2 of 2

Let us continue with excerpts from Plato’s “The Apology of Socrates,” whereby Socrates explains his good intentions in teaching the people the importance of virtue at no personal benefit to himself and his commitment to not doing unjust acts even under extreme coercion.

“Now, therefore, O Athenians! I am far from making a defense on my behalf, as anyone might think, but I do so on your own behalf, lest by condemning me you should offend at all with respect to the gift of the deity to you. For, if you should put me to death, you will not easily find such another, so the deity appears to have united me, being such a person as I am, to the city, that I may rouse you, and persuade and reprove every one of you, nor ever cease besetting you throughout the whole day.”

“But that I am a person who has been given by the deity to this city, you may discern from hence; for it is not like the ordinary conduct of men that I should have neglected all my own affairs and suffered my private interest to be neglected for so many years, and that I should constantly attend to your concerns, addressing myself to each of you separately, like a father, or elder brother, persuading you to the pursuit of virtue.”

“For it is not possible that any man should be safe who sincerely opposes either you, or any other multitude, and who prevents many unjust and illegal actions from being committed in a city; but it is necessary that he who in earnest contends for justice. I will give you strong proof of this, not words, but what you value, facts. Hear, then, what has happened to me, that you may know that I would not yield to anyone contrary to what is just, through fear of death, at the same time by not yielding I must perish. I shall tell you what will be displeasing and wearisome, yet true.”

“At that time, I alone of the Prytanes opposed your doing anything contrary to the laws, and I voted against you; and when the orators were ready to denounce me and to carry me before a magistrate, and you urged and cheered them on, I thought I ought rather to meet the danger with law and justice on my side than through fear of imprisonment or death, to take part with you in your unjust designs.”