Surrendering to Divine Providence – Selections from “Crito” by Plato (vegetarian), Part 2 of 2

“Socrates said: ‘My dear Crito, your zeal would be very commendable were it united with right principle; otherwise, by how much the more earnest it is, by so much is it the more sad. We must consider, therefore, whether this plan should be adopted or not. For I not now only, but always, am a person who will obey nothing within me but reason, according as it appears to me on mature deliberation to be best. Consider, then; does it not appear to you to have been rightly settled that we ought not to respect all the opinions of men, but some we should, and others not? What say you? Is not this rightly resolved?’

‘Does a man who practices gymnastic exercises and applies himself to them, pay attention to the praise and censure and opinion of everyone, or of that one man only who happens to be a physician or teacher of the exercises?’ Crito said: ‘Of that one only.’ Socrates expounded: ‘Well, then, if he disobeys the one, and disregards his opinion and praise, but respects that of the multitude and of those who know nothing, will he not suffer some evil?’ Crito answered: ‘Clearly on his body, for this it ruins.’

Socrates continued: ‘Come, then, if we destroy that which becomes better by what is wholesome, but is impaired by what is unwholesome, through being persuaded by those who do not understand, can we enjoy life when that is impaired? And this is the body we are speaking of, is it not?’ ‘We must not then, my excellent friend, so much regard what the multitude will say of us, but what he will say who understands the just and the unjust, the one, even truth itself.’

‘From what has been admitted, then, this consideration arises, whether it is just or not that I should endeavor to leave this place without the permission of the Athenians. But as to the considerations which you mention, of an outlay of money, reputation, and the education of children, beware, Crito, lest such considerations as these, in reality, belong to these multitudes, who rashly put one to death, and would restore one to life, if they could do so, without any reason at all.’ ‘On no account, therefore, ought we to act unjustly.’ ‘Desist, then, Crito, and let us pursue this course, since this way the deity leads us.’”