Socrates had an excellent understanding of his purpose. He believed that he should be able to speak freely. He wanted to disturb people's slumber and goad them into action. Was he silenced? His victory and our victory is that ultimately, no, he could not be silenced. In his words (or in those of Plato), spoken on the day of his execution:
Socrates had an excellent understanding of his purpose. He believed that he should be able to speak freely. He wanted to disturb people's slumber and goad them into action. Was he silenced? His victory and our victory is that ultimately, no, he could not be silenced. In his words (or in those of Plato), spoken on the day of his execution:
If you silence me you won't find another like me. To joke about it, a strong yet sluggish horse needs a horsefly (gadfly) to liven it up. It appears to me that god has stuck me upon the state like a horsefly to a horse so that I can wake you and tease you and convince you. Therefore, all day long, I am busy as a gadfly stinging you here and there.
Socrates had an excellent understanding of his purpose. He believed that he should be able to speak freely. He wanted to disturb people's slumber and goad them into action. Was he silenced? His victory and our victory is that ultimately, no, he could not be silenced. In his words (or in those of Plato), spoken on the day of his execution:
If you silence me you won't find another like me. To joke about it, a strong yet sluggish horse needs a horsefly (gadfly) to liven it up. It appears to me that god has stuck me upon the state like a horsefly to a horse so that I can wake you and tease you and convince you. Therefore, all day long, I am busy as a gadfly stinging you here and there.
a beautiful commentary reminding us of the lasting example of truth, and the immortal Socrates -- thank you!