Character: Socrates. Page 1

- Your friend who so generously treats us very rich? asked of Socrates, Aspasia.
- Creighton? He has land, cattle, sheep, goats and cows, - and extensive vineyards. He's a very wealthy man.
- Why you chose him as your friends?
- I am ashamed to ask such questions the poor man.
- Are you poor?
I have no apartment houses, workshops, cattle and vineyards, - said Socrates, - but I have many friends, some of them are rich as Creighton, but they are famous primarily because they are smart and kind people than in the first place and dear to me.

- What we turned to Aspasia, worthy of contemplation more than your face, Socrates, did not fail to hurt Socrates Polyglot.
- What if we switch places, everything will be Vice versa? asked Socrates.
All guests rapidly began to discuss what would happen in the event of such changes, and soon came to the conclusion that Socrates and Aspasia better to remain in the same position, for though it will be nice for everyone to see a beautiful face Aspasia ass of Socrates ruin everyone's appetite.

- Have you heard? - appealed to men Socrates. - She, I'm talking about Theodote, grasp the wisdom on the fly, and you even crawling slowly I can not catch up.

Other conversations for me at the amenity to its superior sweetness of lovemaking.

- Are not you afraid that this young beauty will outshine your Mature beauty?
- You said yourself that there are no half beauty, or thirds, or quarters. Beauty or eat all at once, or not at all. So one cannot outshine the other, don't you, Socrates?

- What is the monument of the Empire?
- It is in order: only the Empire can put up a monument because it has the means for such a monument and because only it has the highest point before the inevitable death. Bad or good, but let him remember her: she is the Supreme connection of perfection and ugliness, God and man. All the rest went to play provincials.
- So what are your secret thoughts, - said Socrates.
I have to think. Not my will performed, but the will of history. Herodotus today said it well: "Sitting on a lion can't jump with him voluntarily". Remember?
Remember. But because you control the will of the people is all they see.
But only to the extent that it allows him control. The cart itself is heading only down, but up it must either pull or push, and then when enough power or if not too large, the steepness of the climb. Let go of the cart and everything will fly into the abyss. I have been pushing this big old cart.

- You want to be sarcastic? asked Pericles.
- They say that in small doses the poison and the cure, ' replied Socrates. - And stupidity in any dose is stupidity.
Is you talking about? - alert Anaxagoras.
Is your Mind the Creator of the world, in my opinion, only a large number, in which the endless possible permutations of digits, why it is endlessly changing. But why does the world have to follow these changes? I think that either your Mind is stupid, amused with the world such a disgraceful manner, either the world is stupid and weak-willed, following thy Mind in its meaningless game.

- That says Pericles, then repeat all over Athens. And what I say, then again only dogs reminded Anaxagorou his words Socrates, in retaliation, of course, his ironic smile.

I know that you are not satisfied with Anaxagoras in science and in science Damon - said Pericles Socrates.
What?
They were already at Tolosa and stopped.
In your heart you agree with what is said Anaxagoras: he says that the world is ruled by the Mind, and you believe that the government should also rule the Mind in the person an outstanding ruler. It is this reasonable ruler, to sing a powerful and clear voice, in the words of Damon, and the people just calm the chorus to sing along with him.
- Maybe, grinned in response Pericles. But I only know the one about what I think, Socrates. You know this is not necessary.

[...] perhaps you think, o men, that I am condemned because I have not enough words that I could persuade you to their side, if considered necessary to do and say anything to escape punishment. Is not the case. Not be enough from me, the truth is that, not enough, not words but boldness and shamelessness and willingness to say you what you would prefer to hear crying and sobbing, making and speaking, I say to you, there is still much I am unworthy of all what you're used to hearing from others. But when danger threatened, have I found it necessary to make this something of a slave, and I don't regret what was protected in this way and much prefer to die after such a defence, than to stay alive, zasimovich otherwise.

[...] if you not ashamed that you care about the money to them, you have as many as possible of fame and honors, and on the reasonableness of the truth and of the soul, that it was as good as possible - not care and not thinking?

Leaving the place, I reasoned with myself that this man I am wiser because we are with him, perhaps both nothing to perfection don't know, but he did not know, thinks he knows something, and if so, I don't know and I don't think you know.

- Hey, Socrates. If you're so smart, why are you working at the gas station?
Is a service station. We offer service. There is no higher goal.
- What to fill?
- Service to others.

"In poverty". Probably from all sentences of world literature that most succinctly describes the essence of romantic passion: a need.