Crito | Page 3

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This etext was prepared by Sue Asscher

CRITO
by Plato

Translated by Benjamin Jowett

INTRODUCTION.
The Crito seems intended to exhibit the character of Socrates in one
light only, not as the philosopher, fulfilling a divine mission and
trusting in the will of heaven, but simply as the good citizen, who
having been unjustly condemned is willing to give up his life in
obedience to the laws of the state...
The days of Socrates are drawing to a close; the fatal ship has been
seen off Sunium, as he is informed by his aged friend and
contemporary Crito, who visits him before the dawn has broken; he
himself has been warned in a dream that on the third day he must
depart. Time is precious, and Crito has come early in order to gain his
consent to a plan of escape. This can be easily accomplished by his
friends, who will incur no danger in making the attempt to save him,
but will be disgraced for ever if they allow him to perish. He should
think of his duty to his children, and not play into the hands of his
enemies. Money is already provided by Crito as well as by Simmias
and others, and he will have no difficulty in finding friends in Thessaly
and other places.
Socrates is afraid that Crito is but pressing upon him the opinions of the
many: whereas, all his life long he has followed the dictates of reason
only and the opinion of the one wise or skilled man. There was a time
when Crito himself had allowed the propriety of this. And although
some one will say 'the many can kill us,' that makes no difference; but a
good life, in other words, a just and honourable life, is alone to be

valued. All considerations of loss of reputation or injury to his children
should be dismissed: the only question is whether he would be right in
attempting to escape. Crito, who is a disinterested person not having
the fear of death before his eyes, shall answer this for him. Before he
was condemned they had often held discussions, in which they agreed
that no man should either do evil, or return evil for evil, or betray the
right. Are these principles to be altered because the circumstances of
Socrates are altered? Crito admits that they remain the same. Then is
his escape consistent with the maintenance of them? To this Crito is
unable or unwilling to reply.
Socrates proceeds:--Suppose the Laws of Athens to come and
remonstrate with him: they will ask 'Why does he seek to overturn
them?' and if he replies, 'they have injured him,' will not the Laws
answer, 'Yes, but was that the agreement? Has he any objection to
make to them which would justify him in overturning them? Was he
not brought into the world and educated by their help, and are they not
his parents? He might have left Athens and gone where he pleased, but
he has lived