The Philosopher Socrates

After Pericles died, the Peloponnesian War had already been going on for more than three years, but it was far from over. The Athenians felt the need for a leader, so they chose Nicias to fill the place left by Pericles.

Nicias was an honest man, but unfortunately he was rather dull and very slow at making decisions. Whenever he had to handle state affairs, he hesitated so long and was so uncertain that the Greeks often regretted the loss of Pericles.

At that time, there was another notable man in Athens: the philosopher Socrates, a truly wise and good man. However, he was no politician. Instead of concerning himself with the state, he spent all his spare moments studying or teaching the young men of Athens.

Like his friend Anaxagoras, Socrates was a very deep thinker. He too always tried to find out the exact truth about everything. He was especially eager to know how the earth was created, who the Being was that gave us life, and whether the soul died with the body or continued to live after the body had turned to dust.

Socrates was a poor man, a stonecutter by trade. But he spent every moment he could spare from his work thinking, studying, and questioning others. Little by little, despite the contrary opinions of his fellow citizens, he began to understand that the stories of the Greek gods and goddesses could not be true.

He thought there must surely be a God far greater than them—a God who was good, powerful, and just, who governed the world he had created, rewarded the virtuous, and punished the wicked.

Socrates believed that everyone should be as good and gentle as possible and freely forgive all injuries. This belief was very different from that of all ancient nations, who instead thought they should try to avenge every insult and return evil for evil.

The philosopher Socrates not only taught this gentleness but practiced it carefully at home and abroad. He had plenty of opportunity to use it, for he had such a cross wife that her name, Xanthippe, is still used to describe a scolding and bad-tempered woman.

Whenever Xanthippe was angry, she used to scold poor Socrates loudly. He always listened without losing his temper or even answering her. When her anger became too unbearable, he quietly left the house and went about his business elsewhere.

This gentleness and meekness only angered Xanthippe more. One day, as he was escaping as usual, she grabbed a jug full of water and poured it over his head.

Socrates good-naturedly shook off the water, smiled, and simply remarked to his companions, "After the thunder comes the rain."