Chapter 34 Volume Four Chapter Three

Temperance or self-control and the necessity of having a right idea of ​​God, v. 1-2.The gods favor the world, verses 3-9.All other animals were created by God for man, v. 10.In addition to the senses common to the lesser animals and man, the gods endow man with reason and speech, §11,12.Though we cannot see gods, we are assured of their existence by their works, v. 13, 14.Therefore, God should be worshiped according to our economic conditions, vv. 15, 18. Socrates is not eager to demand eloquence, ability and ingenuity from his followers, but thinks that self-control is necessary first for them; for he believes that if there are only these talents without self-control, then only You can do more unrighteousness and more evil things.

First, Socrates strives to keep his disciples self-possessed before the gods.Some of those who were with him when he told it to others have described his conversation, and the following is what I personally heard when he talked with Eusudemus. "Eusudemus, tell me," said Socrates, "have you ever considered how the gods take care to provide for the needs of men?" "No, I never thought of that," Usudemus replied. "But," said Socrates, "you must know that the light we need first is provided by the gods?" "Of course we know that without light our eyes are as blind as a blind man," replied Eusudemus.

"On the other hand, since we still need rest, the gods provide us with the best rest time, the night." "This is indeed something we should be thankful for," Usudemus replied. "In the daytime by the brightness of the sun we can tell the hour and all other things; but in the night we can tell nothing because of the darkness. Did not the gods make the stars shine in the night so that we can tell the hour of the night watch and thus do many things Is it necessary?" "That's right." "Also, the moon not only divides the night for us, but also divides the order of the moon for us."

"Indeed," Usudemus replied. "Besides, since we need food, the gods made the fields produce food for us, and provided us with a season suitable for producing food, not only providing us with abundant supplies of what we need, but also making us pleasing to the eye, you say What do you think of all this?" "Indeed, all this shows concern for human beings," Usudemus replied. "The gods also provide us with water, which is of great value to us. It, together with the land and the seasons, makes everything useful to us grow and multiply, and provides us with nourishment. When the water is mixed with our food, it makes these Food is easier to digest, more wholesome, and more palatable, and, since we need a great deal of water, the gods provide it freely. [What do you think of all this?]”

"It also shows the foresight of the gods," Eusudemus replied. "The gods have also provided us with fire, both to keep us from cold and to keep us from darkness. Fire is helpful to all crafts, and is also beneficial to everything that man has planned for himself. In a word, man in order to preserve All that life contrives to be good is worthless without the aid of fire. [What do you think of this?]" "This further shows concern for human beings," Usudemus replied. ["The gods spare no effort to surround us with air, which not only preserves and sustains life, but also allows us to travel across the ocean to other places and buy goods in foreign countries. Isn't this an indescribable gift? "

"It is indeed an indescribable gift."] "Also, when the sun turns back after the winter solstice, as it approaches, it makes some plants ripe and others that are past ripeness wither, and having done these things, it does not come near us any more. , but turned away from us, as if fearing to injure us by supplying us with more heat than we needed; and in the process of moving away from us again, it became evident that if we were any further away we would freeze to the cold. When it freezes, he will turn to us again, close to us, and it will always rotate in the most beneficial part of the sky for us, what do you think of this situation?"

"Indeed," replied Eusudaimos, "all this seems to have happened for the sake of man." "Also, since it is obvious that we would not be able to endure heat or cold if such a thing happened suddenly, therefore, the sun always approaches us gradually and moves away gradually, so that we are not aware of it. to the extreme of cold or heat, [what do you think of the situation?]” "I," replied Eusudemus, "doubt that the gods do anything other than serve man. The only thing that bothers me is that other creatures share this benefit with man." Socrates replied, "Is it not clear that other living beings have grown for man? What other living beings derive as much benefit from goats, sheep, horses, oxen, donkeys, and other animals as man?" ?I thought that man got more benefit from these animals than from the peel. At least he got no less benefit in nutrition and trade from the former than from the latter. Many people don't use the peel from the field as food, but by milk, cheese, and meat from cattle; and all men tame and raise useful cattle, and use them to serve themselves in war and in many other ways."

"In this I also agree with what you say," said Eusudaimus, "for I have seen many animals that are stronger than we are so tame to man that he can command them as he pleases." "Besides, since there are many good and useful things, and they are all different, the gods have endowed man with senses suitable for all kinds of things, so that through these senses, we can enjoy all kinds of good things; besides, the gods It also cultivates in us the faculty of reasoning, by which we reason about the objects of our senses and keep them in mind, so as to know exactly what advantage each thing affords us, and to think of many ways to enjoy those good things and avoid those bad things. In addition, the gods have also given us the ability to express, through which we can teach others to share all the good things with us, formulate Laws, governing the country. [And what do you think of all this?]”

"Socrates, it seems that the gods have indeed done a lot of work to care for mankind." "Because it is impossible for us to know in advance what will be beneficial to us in the future, the gods assist us through divination, declare the outcome of things to those who inquire, and teach them what to do will produce the best results. [You What do you think about this?]” "Socrates," said Eusudemus, "it seems that the gods are kinder to you than to others, because they tell you in advance what you should and should not do without asking." "If you are not expecting to see the image of the gods, but are satisfied with awe and admiration when you see the deeds of the gods, you will know that what I say is true. Think about it, the gods themselves have put this One point shows us. For other gods do not give us good things in a visible way when they give us them. Only the God who arranges and maintains the whole universe (all good things are In this universe), he keeps the universe forever intact, pure, ageless, and fit for human service. The universe obeys God faster than thought, and without error. The God himself is due to his His great deeds are displayed, but the image of His governance of the universe is invisible to us. Consider also that even the sun, which is so obvious to everyone, does not allow people to accurately peep at itself. If Anyone looking at it rashly, it blinds him, and God's servants are also invisible. Lightning is visible from heaven, and it falls on all whom it strikes, but it The coming, striking and departing of the wind is invisible. The wind itself is invisible, but its actions are obvious to us, and its coming is felt by us. Especially the soul of man is more powerful than the human soul. Everything else is more divine, and the soul reigns in us evidently, but itself is invisible."

"Considering all this, we should not despise those invisible things, but should experience their power from their performance, so as to have awe of the gods." "Socrates," said Eusudemus, "I do know that I dare not neglect the gods in the slightest, but when I think that no one can repay the gods enough Depressed." "Eusudemus, don't be discouraged," said Socrates, "you know that the god who lived at Delphi answered the question asked to him, 'How to please the god?': It is the custom of the city. But I think it is the custom everywhere to offer a sacrifice of reconciliation to the gods according to one's ability. So what better and more pious respect for the gods than to do what they themselves bid It is important, however, not to give less than one's ability. For anyone who does so is clearly disrespecting the gods. Those who try to respect the gods should rejoice and cheer up and wait for the gods Greatest blessing, what else can we wait for to bestow upon us a greater blessing than to wait on God who can help us most? There is no other way but to please God. There is no other way but to obey God to the fullest , what could please them more?"

In this way, Socrates, through his words and actions, made those with him live more pious and temperate lives.