You are always, said the Merchant, in search of knowledge and
wisdom.
Yes, I am, said Socrates.
And do you do this, Socrates, to prove others wrong? asked the Merchant.
Socrates replied:
No, friend, I do not seek the truth to prove others wrong.
You are always, said the Merchant, in search of knowledge and
wisdom.
Yes, I am, said Socrates.
And do you do this, Socrates, to prove yourself right? asked the
Merchant.
Socrates replied:
No, friend, I do not seek the truth to prove others wrong or myself right.
You are always, said the Merchant, in search of knowledge and
wisdom.
Yes, I am, said Socrates.
And do you do this, Socrates, to satisfy your ego? asked the Merchant.
Socrates replied:
No, friend, I do not seek the truth to satisfy my ego.
You are always, said the Merchant, in search of knowledge and
wisdom.
Yes, I am, said Socrates.
And do you do this, Socrates, to humiliate others? asked the Merchant.
Socrates replied:
No, friend, I do not seek the truth to satisfy my ego or to humiliate
others.
You are always, said the Merchant, in search of knowledge and
wisdom.
Yes, I am, said Socrates.
And do you do this, Socrates, in arrogance and pride? asked the Merchant.
Socrates replied:
No, friend, I do not seek the truth to feed my ego; and I do not do this
in arrogance or to humiliate anyone. When I started on this quest I determined
I shall not do so in order to aggrandize myself or to humiliate others and
, as well as it is possible for any human to do so, I have been true to my
resolution.
Then why do you do this, Socrates?
Because that is the natural way of my life, my dear friend.
I made a conscious decision that the life examined, this quest for wisdom,
is the best way to live my life and so I do this.
I have considered and examined other ways of life but I would have none other
than this life.
- extract, Socrates Speaks by Raj Arumugam