Chapter 6 Volume 1 Chapter 6

Three dialogues between Socrates and Antiphon: Ⅰ.Antiphon laughs at Socrates' poverty and frugality and his reluctance to receive a fee for his teaching, v. 1-3.Socrates replies that since no fee is charged he is free to choose his audience, §4-5.There are many advantages to say that the diet is bland and the dress plain, v. 6, 7.The advantages of a thrifty man over a voluptuous man are said to be that a thrifty man is easy to self-improvement; Ⅱ.Antiphon says that Socrates may have been a just man by not accepting a reward, but by no means a wise man, §11,12.Socrates says that to sell wisdom is to belittle it; it is better to gain friends than money, §13-14. Ⅲ.Antiphon asks Socrates why he does not take part in government while he teaches others to govern; Socrates replies that it is more useful to the state to train many to govern than to take part in it alone, v. 15.

In doing Socrates justice we must also fail to note his dialogue with Antiphon the Sophist.Once Antiphon, in order to drive away all those who were friends with Socrates, said to Socrates in front of them: "Socrates, I thought that people who studied philosophy should be happier than others, but the fruit you reap from philosophy seems to be of the opposite kind. At least you live a life that makes slaves happy. You will not go on living with his master; you eat and drink the crudest food; your clothes are not only ragged, but are the same in summer and winter; you have been without shoes and stockings and There is no long gown; money is such a thing that people feel happy when they accept it, and live comfortably and happily when they have it, but you don’t take a penny. Since the masters who teach other professions want their disciples They imitate themselves; and if you, too, are to be imitated by your associates, you must regard yourself as a teacher of misfortune."

To these words Socrates replied: "Antyphon, you seem to regard my life as so unfortunate that I think you would rather die than live like mine. Let's consider what you think my life has caused you. What is the displeasure? Is it because other people who receive money must serve for what they get, and I, since I don't take money, am not obliged to teach to people I don't like? Is it because you think my diet is not as wholesome as yours, or as nutritious as yours, and that you think it bad? Or is it because my diet is rarer and more expensive than yours, and Is the diet more difficult to obtain? Or is it because the diet you obtain is more palatable to you and the food I obtain for myself is less palatable to me? Don't you know that the more you can appreciate The man who has food needs less condiments, and the man who appreciates drink the less he who is busy seeking what he doesn't have? You know those who change their clothes because of the difference in weather, and the man who wears shoes I wear it to prevent pain in my feet and make it difficult to walk. When have you ever seen me stay at home because of the cold weather, or compete with others for shade because of the overheated weather, or struggle to walk because of foot pain? Don’t you Do you know that those who are born with a weak constitution, who, if they exercise themselves, become strong in what they exercise, can more easily withstand fatigue than those who neglect exercise? Do you not know that a man who exercises as often as I do, Can a man who is prepared to meet any trial that may befall his body withstand all trials more easily than a man like yourself who does not take physical exercise? What do you think you can do to avoid being a slave to appetite, sleep, or other passions? Is there a more effective way than to fix my mind on these things that are more attractive, and that not only please my heart while enjoying them, but which I hope will always do me good? You know this too Well, those who know they are accomplishing nothing are never very pleased, but those who see their agriculture, or their seafaring, or whatever other occupation they pursue, going to their advantage, will seem At present, I have been as happy as being successful. But do you think that the happiness derived from these satisfactions can be as happy as realizing that you are growing up better and getting more and more valuable friends? These are what I think The joy of being constantly aware.

"Besides, when a friend or a city-state needs help, which of these two kinds of people do you think will have more time to help, the person who lives like me, or the person who you think lives in happiness Which of these two kinds of people will happily go to battle, the kind who can't live without eating the delicacies of the mountains and seas, or the kind who can live with the situation and eat simple food and drink? When besieged, Which of these two kinds of people will succumb sooner, the one whose needs are very difficult to satisfy, or the one whose needs are extremely easy to satisfy?" "Antyphon, you seem to think that happiness is In luxury and feasting; but I think that to be able to ask for nothing is to be like a god, and the less one needs, the closer to a god; divinity is perfection, and the closer to divinity, the closer to perfection . "

On another occasion, Antiphon said to Socrates in conversation: "Socrates, I think you are indeed a just man, but you are by no means a wise man; I think you are aware of this yourself; you do not expect any money from those who associate with you. Yet , if you value a piece of clothing, a house, or anything else you own, you will not only not give it away for free, but you will not ask for more than it is worth So obviously, if you think your talk is of any value, you must also ask people to pay a fair price. So although you don't cheat people out of greed, in this sense you Be a just man, but you can never be a wise man, for your knowledge is worthless."

To this, Socrates replied: "Antiphon, we all agree that the disposition of beauty and intelligence can be as honorable as it is dishonorable. If a man sells his beauty to anyone who will buy it, we call him a pedophile; but if a man befriends a man who admires honorable and noble things we call him a man of sense; likewise people call those who sell their wits for money a sophist. , which seems to be saying, the betrayer of wisdom. However, if a person makes friends with a person he knows is a virtuous person, and teaches him all the good things he knows, we think that what he has done is Worthy of an honorable and good citizen. Antiphon, as others rejoice in a good horse, a dog, or a bird, so much more I rejoice in a worthy friend; and, If I know any good thing, I teach it to them, and introduce them to any other teacher who I think will increase them in virtue. The precious bequeathed by the wise ancients in their books I also discuss and explore with them, if we find something good from the books of the ancients, we will extract it, and we regard it as a great harvest to be able to help each other in this way."

For me who heard him say these words, I think Socrates was not only happy himself, but he also led those who listened to him to the road of beauty and glory. Once again, when Antiphon asked him how, even though he knew politics, he could not imagine him making others a statesman, since he himself did not take part in them, Socrates replied: "Antiphon, am I participating in political affairs alone, or am I concentrating on cultivating as many people as possible to participate in political affairs so that I can play a greater role in politics?"