That is an extraordinary statement, Meletus. Why do you my ingenious contradiction, or whether I shall be able to say that? Do you mean that I do not believe in the godhead deceive him and the rest of them. For he certainly does of the sun or moon, which is the common creed of all men?
appear to me to contradict himself in the indictment as much I assure you, judges, that he does not believe in them; for as if he said that Socrates is guilty of not believing in the he says that the sun is stone, and the moon earth.
gods, and yet of believing in them - but this surely is a piece Friend Meletus, you think that you are accusing Anaxagoras; of fun.
and you have but a bad opinion of the judges, if you fancy I should like you, O men of Athens, to join me in examin-them ignorant to such a degree as not to know that those ing what I conceive to be his inconsistency; and do you, doctrines are found in the books of Anaxagoras the Meletus, answer. And I must remind you that you are not to Clazomenian, who is full of them. And these are the doc-interrupt me if I speak in my accustomed manner.
trines which the youth are said to learn of Socrates, when Did ever man, Meletus, believe in the existence of human there are not unfrequently exhibitions of them at the the-things, and not of human beings? ... I wish, men of Athens, atre (price of admission one drachma at the most); and they that he would answer, and not be always trying to get up an might cheaply purchase them, and laugh at Socrates if he interruption. Did ever any man believe in horsemanship, pretends to father such eccentricities. And so, Meletus, you and not in horses? or in flute-playing, and not in flute-really think that I do not believe in any god?
players? No, my friend; I will answer to you and to the court, I swear by Zeus that you believe absolutely in none at all.
as you refuse to answer for yourself. There is no man who You are a liar, Meletus, not believed even by yourself. For I ever did. But now please to answer the next question: Can a cannot help thinking, O men of Athens, that Meletus is reck-man believe in spiritual and divine agencies, and not in less and impudent, and that he has written this indictment spirits or demigods?
in a spirit of mere wantonness and youthful bravado. Has he He cannot.
not compounded a riddle, thinking to try me? He said to I am glad that I have extracted that answer, by the assis-himself: - I shall see whether this wise Socrates will discover tance of the court; nevertheless you swear in the indict-12
Apology
ment that I teach and believe in divine or spiritual agencies I have said enough in answer to the charge of Meletus: any (new or old, no matter for that); at any rate, I believe in elaborate defence is unnecessary; but as I was saying before, spiritual agencies, as you say and swear in the affidavit; but I certainly have many enemies, and this is what will be my if I believe in divine beings, I must believe in spirits or demi-destruction if I am destroyed; of that I am certain; - not gods; - is not that true? Yes, that is true, for I may assume Meletus, nor yet Anytus, but the envy and detraction of the that your silence gives assent to that. Now what are spirits world, which has been the death of many good men, and or demigods? are they not either gods or the sons of gods? Is will probably be the death of many more; there is no danger that true?
of my being the last of them.
Yes, that is true.
Someone will say: And are you not ashamed, Socrates, of a But this is just the ingenious riddle of which I was speak-course of life which is likely to bring you to an untimely ing: the demigods or spirits are gods, and you say first that end? To him I may fairly answer: There you are mistaken: a I don’t believe in gods, and then again that I do believe in man who is good for anything ought not to calculate the gods; that is, if I believe in demigods. For if the demigods chance of living or dying; he ought only to consider whether are the illegitimate sons of gods, whether by the Nymphs or in doing anything he is doing right or wrong - acting the by any other mothers, as is thought, that, as all men will part of a good man or of a bad. Whereas, according to your allow, necessarily implies the existence of their parents. You view, the heroes who fell at Troy were not good for much, might as well affirm the existence of mules, and deny that and the son of Thetis above all, who altogether despised of horses and asses. Such nonsense, Meletus, could only have danger in comparison with disgrace; and when his goddess been intended by you as a trial of me. You have put this into mother said to him, in his eagerness to slay Hector, that if the indictment because you had nothing real of which to he avenged his companion Patroclus, and slew Hector, he accuse me. But no one who has a particle of understanding would die himself - “Fate,” as she said, “waits upon you will ever be convinced by you that the same man can believe next after Hector”; he, hearing this, utterly despised danger in divine and superhuman things, and yet not believe that and death, and instead of fearing them, feared rather to live there are gods and demigods and heroes.