Glad I read this short dialogue between Socrates and Criton. Basically, Socrates is in prison, doomed to die and planning to commit suicide the next day. His friend begs him to reconsider, pointing out friends and family who care about him, and all those who would gladly "buy" his freedom for him.
Socrates has two great answers:
First, that purchasing his release would consitute a wrong. And second, that if he had accepted the laws of the state and in fact lived them and strove for justice by them all his life, he would be doing wrong by then escaping them or refusing to abide by them.
In plain talk: It’s your country, love it or leave it.
Kind of neat that the words written centuries ago are as relevant today. Especially since I was reading this and started on Phaedro while waiting for an oil change at Midas this morning.
The Lost Children: A Charity Anthology
Most of what was said and written hundreds, not to say thousands of years ago still applies today, don’t you think?
I am wondering what Thoreau would say to Socrates?