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Section 3

EUTHYPHRO. I hope it may happen, Socrates, but I am very much afraid the opposite will result. By attempting to wrong you, he seems to me to be beginning by striking at the very hearth of the city. But tell me, what does he say you do to corrupt the young?

SOCRATES. Things that sound very strange when first heard, my friend. He says I am a maker of gods, and on this ground—that I create new gods and do not believe in the old ones—he has indicted me for their sake, as he says.

EUTHYPHRO. I understand, Socrates. It is because you say the divine sign comes to you. So he has written this indictment claiming you are innovating in religious matters, and he goes to court to slander you, knowing that such matters are easily misrepresented to the multitude. Why, they even laugh at me as if I were crazy when I speak in the assembly concerning divine things and predict the future for them! And yet, not one of the things I have foretold has been false. But they envy all of us who are like this. We must not worry about them, but face them boldly.

SOCRATES. My dear Euthyphro, being laughed at is perhaps a small matter. The Athenians, it seems to me, do not care much if they think someone is clever, as long as he does not teach his wisdom to others. But if they think someone is making others like himself, they get angry—whether out of envy, as you say, or for some other reason.

EUTHYPHRO. I have no great desire to test their disposition toward me on that point.

SOCRATES. Perhaps they think you offer yourself rarely and are unwilling to teach your wisdom. But I fear that because of my love of humanity, they think I pour out whatever I have to everyone indiscriminately, not only without pay, but even glad to pay if anyone will listen to me. So, as I just said, if they were only going to laugh at me, as you say they do at you, it would not be unpleasant to spend the time in court joking and laughing. But if they are going to be serious, the outcome is uncertain to everyone except you prophets.

EUTHYPHRO. Perhaps it will come to nothing, Socrates, and you will conduct your case satisfactorily, as I think I shall conduct mine.