APOLOGY 23
bcdof Hipponicus, a man who has spent more money on sophists than everyone else put
together. So I said to him (he has two sons), “Callias, if your two sons had been foals or
calves, we could have hired a trainer for them who would have trained them to excel in
doing what they are naturally capable of. He would have been either a groom or a
farmer. But whom do you intend to take to train them, seeing that they are men? Who
understands the excellence which a man and citizen is capable of attaining? I suppose
that you must have thought of this, because you have sons. Is there such a person or
not?” “Certainly there is,” he replied. “Who is he,” said I, “and where does he come
from, and what is his fee?” “Evenus, Socrates,” he replied, “from Paros, five minae.”
Then I thought that Evenus was a fortunate person if he really understood this art and
could teach so cleverly. If I had possessed knowledge of that kind, I should have been
conceited and disdainful. But, Athenians, the truth is that I do not possess it.
Perhaps some of you may reply: “But, Socrates, what is the trouble with you?
What has given rise to these prejudices against you? You must have been doing some-
thing out of the ordinary. All these rumors and reports of you would never have arisen if
you had not been doing something different from other men. So tell us what it is, that
we may not give our verdict arbitrarily.” I think that that is a fair question, and I will try
to explain to you what it is that has raised these prejudices against me and given me this
reputation. Listen, then. Some of you, perhaps, will think that I am joking, but I assure
you that I will tell you the whole truth. I have gained this reputation, Athenians, simply
The Thólos at Delphi with theSanctuary of Apolloin the background. Socrates’ friend, Chaerophon, went to
the famous oracle at Delphi to ask if there was anyone wiser than Socrates. The oracle, who usually gave very
cryptic answers, responded with a simple “no.” This led Socrates on a quest to find someone wiser than
himself—a quest which resulted in Socrates making a number of influential enemies. (Forrest E. Baird)