Crito, why are you here?
It is so early!
I wonder how calm you are when execution is
so close.
A man of my age should not be afraid of death.
I have come with sad news.
The ship from Delos will arrive soon which
means tomorrow will be the last day of your
life.
It will be delayed.
I had a dream: a fair woman came to me and
said
You shall arrive in fertile Phthia on the
third day
Listen to me and escape!
If you die, I will lose a friend and people
will say that I did not try to save you and
that I value money more than a friend.
Why care about opinions of many?
Only good people are worth considering.
And good people will understand.
But Socrates, what happened to you proves
that the opinions of many can do the greatest
evil to anyone who lost their approval.
Oh that would be great if they could do the
greatest evil, because then they could also
do the greatest good!
However, a majority cannot make another man
either wise or unwise and whatever they do
is a matter of chance.
Socrates, are you worried that your friends
will have troubles if they help you escape?
Don’t worry, it's our duty to save you,
even at risk.
Yes, Crito, but it is not my only fear.
We have money for your escape.
Men will love you in other places like Thessaly.
Betraying your life when it can be saved will
only make your enemies happy.
You are leaving your children instead of raising
and educating them.
You chose the easiest part, not the manliest.
Therefore, Socrates, please do as I say, there
is no time!
Dear Crito, I have always been guided by reason.
I cannot unfollow the principles I have been
honouring my whole life, even after I got
imprisoned.
Tell me, whether I'm right by saying that
only opinions of some men are valued, and
the opinions of others are not to be valued
?
Certainly.
The good should be regarded, and the bad — should
not be?
The opinions of the wise are good and of the
unwise are evil?
Obviously.
So the gymnastics student should pay attention
to the opinion of his physician and trainer,
rather then to opinions of the crowd?
Otherwise, his body will be corrupted.
True
So, in a matter of just and unjust, we shall
follow not the opinion of the many but of
the man who has understanding, isn’t it
right?
It is right
And only a good life should be valued, isn’t
that right?
And a good life is a just one.
Money, loss of character and duty of bringing
up children, are only the doctrines of the
many.
True
And at last, is doing wrong always evil or
only sometimes?
Always
Is that right that we are never to do wrong
intentionally, even in return for an evil?
And it will never be right to respond to injustice
with injustice.
Surely, Socrates.
So, are we not doing harm escaping against
the will of Athenians, against the laws we
acknowledged to be fair?
I cannot tell, Socrates.
I do not know.
Imagine that State will come to me and ask
me
Socrates, do you want to destroy the laws?
Do you imagine that a city can survive without
laws?
Do you think the laws can be broken by individuals
and have no power?
But the State has given an unjust sentence.
But you did agree to follow the laws?
We gave you life through the marriage of your
parents, and education.
You are our child as well!
Would you strike your father because you would
be struck by him?
As we cannot harm our parents — we can not
harm our country.
What should we answer this, Crito?
Do the laws speak truly, or do they not?
I think that they do.
Then the laws will also say:
You could leave to other places.
But you stayed here, had children here, which
means you were satisfied.
Those, who stay, agree to follow the laws.
During the trial you refused to be banished
and said you would prefer death.
Now you forgot your principles?
Running away?
Now you depart in innocence, but if you return
evil for evil, your friends will be banished,
and no matter where you go, the government
will be against you because you broke the
laws.
How will you talk of virtue and justice after
that?
Didn’t you agree to follow the laws not
only in word but in deed?
Don’t make yourself ridiculous by escaping!
How shall we answer to that, Crito?
Must we disagree?
This is the voice I hear in my ears, Crito.
I have nothing to say.
Then let me follow the will of God.
