Xenophon's "Memorabilia" presents the author's recollections of his teacher Socrates through dialogues and anecdotes that illuminate the philosopher's methods and beliefs. This ancient Greek philosophical work, translated by H. G. Dakyns, offers a student's perspective on Socratic wisdom and ethics, complementing Plato's more famous accounts.
I have often wondered by what arguments those who indicted Socrates could have persuaded the Athenians that his life was justly forfeit to the state. The indictment was to this effect: "Socrates is guilty of crime in refusing to recognise the gods acknowledged by the state, and importing strange divinities of his own; he is further guilty of corrupting the young." In the first place, what evidence did they produce that Socrates refused to recognise the gods acknowledged by the state? Was it that he did not sacrifice? or that he dispensed with divination? On the contrary, he was often to be seen engaged in sacrifice, at home or at the common altars of the state. Nor was his dependence on divination less manifest. Indeed that saying of his, "A divinity gives me a sign," was on everybody's lips. So much so that, if I am not mistaken, it lay at the root of the imputation that he imported nov…Continue reading →
This is the H. G. Dakyns translation, a public-domain English text. Marginalia presents it unabridged, with chapter navigation, your reading position saved, and optional AI commentary on any passage.
A student of Socrates who became a soldier, historian, and philosopher in 4th century BCE Greece. His vivid accounts of military campaigns, including his famous Anabasis about leading 10,000 Greek mercenaries home from Persia, provide invaluable firsthand glimpses into ancient warfare, politics, and daily life that still captivate readers today. All works by Xenophon →
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