will with good reason blame me and say, "What did Epictetus observe in
me that, when he saw me in such a plight coming to him in such a
scandalous condition, he neglected me and never said a word? did he so
much despair of me? was I not young? was I not able to listen to
reason? and how many other young men at this age commit many like
errors? I hear that a certain Polemon from being a most dissolute
youth underwent such a great change. Well, suppose that he did not
think that I should be a Polemon; yet he might have set my hair right,
he might have stripped off my decorations, he might have stopped me
from plucking the hair out of my body; but when he saw me dressed
like- what shall I say?- he kept silent." I do not say like what;
but you will say, when you come to your senses and shall know what
it is and what persons use such a dress.
If you bring this charge against me hereafter, what defense shall
I make? Why, shall I say that the man will not be persuaded by me? Was
Laius persuaded by Apollo? Did he and get drunk and show no care for
the oracle? Well then, for this reason did Apollo refuse to tell him
the truth? I indeed do not know, whether you will be persuaded by me
or not; but Apollo knew most certainly that Laius would not be
persuaded and yet he spoke. But why did he speak? I say in reply:
But why is he Apollo, and why does he deliver oracles, and why has
he fixed himself in this place as a prophet and source of truth and
for the inhabitants of the world to resort to him? and why are the
words "Know yourself" written in front of the temple, though no person
takes any notice of them?
Did Socrates persuade all his hearers to take care of themselves?
Not the thousandth part. But, however, after he had been placed in
this position by the deity, as he himself says, he never left it.
But what does he say even to his judges? "If you acquit me on these
conditions that I no longer do that which I do now, I will not consent
and I will not desist; but I will go up both to young and to old, and,
to speak plainly, to every man whom I meet, and I will ask the
questions which I ask now; and most particularly will I do this to you
my fellow-citizens, because you are more nearly related to me." Are
you so curious, Socrates, and such a busybody? and how does it concern
you how we act? and what is it that you say? "Being of the same
community and of the same kin, you neglect yourself, and show yourself
a bad citizen to the state, and a bad kinsman to your kinsmen, and a
bad neighbor to your neighbors." "Who, then are you?" Here it is a
great thing to say, "I am he whose duty it is to take care of men; for
it is not every little heifer which dares to resist a lion; but if the
bull comes up and resists him, say to the bull, if you choose, 'And
who are you, and what business have you here?'" Man, in every kind
there is produced something which excels; in oxen, in dogs, in bees,
in horses. Do not then say to that which excels, "Who, then, are you?"
If you do, it will find a voice in some way and say, "I am such a
thing as the purple in a garment: do not expect me to be like the
others, or blame my nature that it has made me different from the rest
of men."
What then? am I such a man? Certainly not. And are you such a man as