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Section 24

This is the truth, men of Athens, and I am speaking to you hiding nothing, neither great nor small, and holding nothing back. Though I know very well that I make myself hated by doing this. But that is the proof that I am speaking the truth, and that this is the slander against me, and these are its causes. Whether you investigate these matters now or later, you will find it to be so. Let this be a sufficient defense before you against the charges made by my first accusers. Next I will try to defend myself against Meletus, that "good and patriotic man," as he calls himself, and the later accusers. Let us again take up their sworn statement, as if they were a different set of accusers. It runs something like this: it says Socrates acts unjustly by corrupting the youth and by not believing in the gods the city believes in, but in other new spiritual things. Such is the charge. Let us examine each point of this accusation. He says I act unjustly by corrupting the youth. But I say, men of Athens, that Meletus acts unjustly because he jests in serious matters, eagerly bringing men to trial, pretending to be serious and concerned about matters he has never cared about at all. I will try to show you that this is the case. Come here, Meletus, and tell me: do you not consider it of the utmost importance that the young men be as good as possible?

MELETUS. I do.

SOCRATES. Come then, tell these men, who makes them better? For clearly you know, since you care about it. Having discovered the one who corrupts them—me, as you say—you are bringing me before these judges and accusing me. Come, name the one who makes them better, and tell them who he is. Do you see, Meletus, that you are silent and have nothing to say? Does this not seem shameful to you, and a sufficient proof of exactly what I say, that you have never cared about this? Tell me, my good man, who makes them better?

MELETUS. The laws.

SOCRATES. That is not what I am asking, my excellent friend. I am asking what man, who first knows this very thing, the laws.

MELETUS. These judges here, Socrates.

SOCRATES. What do you mean, Meletus? Are these men able to educate the youth and make them better?

MELETUS. Most certainly.

SOCRATES. All of them? Or some of them and not others?

MELETUS. All of them.