Thought for today: As he was about to drink poison, Plato wrote:
Let us reflect in another way, and we shall see that there is great reason to hope that death is a good; for one of two things--either death is a state of nothingness and utter unconsciousness, or, as men say, there is a change and migration of the soul from this world to another. Now if you suppose that there is no consciousness, but a sleep like the sleep of him who is undisturbed even by dreams, death will be an unspeakable gain. But if death is the journey to another place, and there, as men say, all the dead abide, what good, O my friends and judges, can be greater than this.What infinite delight would there be in conversing with them and asking them questions! In another world they do not put a man to death for asking questions: assuredly not. For besides being happier than we are, they will be immortal, if what is said is true.
Wherefore, O judges, be of good cheer about death, and know of a certainty, that no evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death. He and his are not neglected by the gods; nor has my own approaching end happened by mere chance. But I see clearly that the time had arrived when it was better for me to die and be released from trouble; wherefore the oracle gave no sign. For which reason, also, I am not angry with my condemners, or with my accusers; they have done me no harm, although they did not mean to do me any good; and for this I may gently blame them.
Still I have a favour to ask of them. When my sons are grown up, I would ask you, O my friends, to punish them; and I would have you trouble them, as I have troubled you, if they seem to care about riches, or anything, more than about virtue; or if they pretend to be something when they are really nothing,--then reprove them, as I have reproved you, for not caring about that for which they ought to care, and thinking that they are something when they are really nothing. And if you do this, both I and my sons will have received justice at your hands.
The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our ways--I to die, and you to live. Which is better God only knows.
More Plato: "Then, I said, let us begin and create in idea a State; and yet the true creator is necessity, who is the mother of our invention."
"I can show you that the art of calculation has to do with odd and even numbers in their numerical relations to themselves and to each other."
"You cannot conceive the many without the one."
"False words are not only evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil."
Have a sunny day. Fine Art and Jewelry.
Let us reflect in another way, and we shall see that there is great reason to hope that death is a good; for one of two things--either death is a state of nothingness and utter unconsciousness, or, as men say, there is a change and migration of the soul from this world to another. Now if you suppose that there is no consciousness, but a sleep like the sleep of him who is undisturbed even by dreams, death will be an unspeakable gain. But if death is the journey to another place, and there, as men say, all the dead abide, what good, O my friends and judges, can be greater than this.What infinite delight would there be in conversing with them and asking them questions! In another world they do not put a man to death for asking questions: assuredly not. For besides being happier than we are, they will be immortal, if what is said is true.
Wherefore, O judges, be of good cheer about death, and know of a certainty, that no evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death. He and his are not neglected by the gods; nor has my own approaching end happened by mere chance. But I see clearly that the time had arrived when it was better for me to die and be released from trouble; wherefore the oracle gave no sign. For which reason, also, I am not angry with my condemners, or with my accusers; they have done me no harm, although they did not mean to do me any good; and for this I may gently blame them.
Still I have a favour to ask of them. When my sons are grown up, I would ask you, O my friends, to punish them; and I would have you trouble them, as I have troubled you, if they seem to care about riches, or anything, more than about virtue; or if they pretend to be something when they are really nothing,--then reprove them, as I have reproved you, for not caring about that for which they ought to care, and thinking that they are something when they are really nothing. And if you do this, both I and my sons will have received justice at your hands.
The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our ways--I to die, and you to live. Which is better God only knows.
More Plato: "Then, I said, let us begin and create in idea a State; and yet the true creator is necessity, who is the mother of our invention."
"I can show you that the art of calculation has to do with odd and even numbers in their numerical relations to themselves and to each other."
"You cannot conceive the many without the one."
"False words are not only evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil."
Have a sunny day. Fine Art and Jewelry.
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2 comments:
What a powerful and ponderous quote. So clearly laid out in thought. It made me want to read more Plato. Such a deep thinker. He was alive right up to the moment of death. Amazing! What was this drawn from? Thank you for sharing it.
Hi Robin,
I have to clear up a mistake I made.I wrote,as he was about to drink poison, Plato wrote. It should have been, as Socrates was about to drink poison ,Plato wrote.
Only one word difference but I had the wrong man injesting the poison!
Anyway the post is from Plato's work - Apology.
Thanks for your interest Robin. Have a sunny day.
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