Piety

" When such a witness convicts the folly of men and calls upon God, what else remains for the unbelieving but judgement and condemnation?

For this very thing is the fairest of the tasks before us, to show you that it was from madness and from this thrice-wretched custom that piety came to be hated.

but the only universal exhortation, and that for the whole of life, in every season, in every circumstance, straining toward the chief end, life, is piety;

and therefore the gods grant us the welcome respite of night.

for you know that to the inquiry, How am I to please the gods?

Truly, Socrates, it does appear that the gods devote much care to man.

The first of the forms of justice is that toward the gods, then that toward the lesser divinities, then that toward fatherland and parents, then that toward the departed;

Therefore for all the reasons that I have urged, and above all for the honor of the god whose festival he has been convicted of profaning, punish this man by casting the vote which piety and justice alike demand.

Well then, the qualities which we must possess as a foundation if we are to be happy and prosperous, namely, piety and moderation and justice and virtue in all its phases, I mentioned a moment ago.

But I marvel if anyone thinks that those who practise piety and justice remain constant and steadfast in these virtues because they expect to be worse off than the wicked and not because they consider that both among gods and among men they will have the advantage over others.

On the other hand, they are of all men most afflicted with unreason who concede that justice is a way of life more noble and more pleasing to the gods than injustice but at the same time believe that those who follow it will live in worse case than those who have chosen the way of evil.

Fear the gods, honor your parents, respect your friends, obey the laws.

In matters of money, swear by none of the gods, not even when you intend to swear a true oath;

First of all, then, show devotion to the gods, not merely by doing sacrifice, but also by keeping your vows;

Have you no shame before the gods for saying that?

No, I swear it by the pure majesty of Zeus most high!

It is true that men are compelled to bear the fortunes given by the gods;

So much, then, for the virtue of Piety.

For where men reverence the gods, train themselves in warfare and practise obedience, there you surely find high hopes abounding.

caused those who arrogantly claimed for themselves the honours paid to the gods to shrink even from looking the Greeks in the face;

For I have realized that my whole life has been spent in righteousness toward God and man,—a fact that affords the greatest satisfaction;

and I think that in using such a term I am speaking with more truth and deeper religious feeling than do those who ascribe the gods’ power to birds.

rather I am satisfied to make it clear that while Socrates’ whole concern was to keep free from any act of impiety toward the gods or any appearance of wrong-doing toward man, he did not think it meet to beseech the jury to let him escape death;

Next after the bulls came horses, a sacrifice for the Sun;

And you, Cyrus, asked one of those present, when will you adorn yourself?

And Cyrus considered that the piety of his friends was a good thing for him, too;

A very economical service it is, I declare!

and I never wittingly lie in matters wherein I have invoked them to be my witnesses.

But what I should like very much to know is how you serve them to keep them so friendly.