Book 2, Chapter 8

At another time chancing upon an old friend whom he had not seen for a long while, he greeted him thus.

Another time, he came across an old friend he had not seen in a long while. He greeted him as follows.

Soc. What quarter of the world do you hail from, Eutherus?

Soc. Where in the world are you from, Eutherus?

The other answered: From abroad, just before the close of the war; but at present from the city itself. ¹ You see, since we have been denuded of our possessions across the frontier, ² and my father left me nothing in Attica, I must needs bide at home, and provide myself with the necessaries of life by means of bodily toil, which seems preferable to begging from another, especially as I have no security on which to raise a loan.

The other replied: From abroad, just before the war ended, but now from the city itself. ¹ You see, we have lost our property across the border, ² and my father left me nothing in Attica. So I must stay at home and earn what I need to live through physical labor. That seems better than begging from someone else, especially since I have no security for a loan.

Soc. And how long do you expect your body to be equal to providing the necessaries of life for hire?

Soc. And how long do you expect your body to be strong enough to earn a living?

Euth. Goodness knows, Socrates—not for long.

Euth. Goodness knows, Socrates, not for long.

Soc. And when you find yourself an old man, expenses will not diminish, and yet no one will care to pay you for the labour of your hands.

Soc. And when you are old, your expenses will not decrease. Yet no one will want to pay you for manual labor.

Euth. That is true.

Euth. That's true.

Soc. Would it not be better then to apply yourself at once to such work as will stand you in good stead when you are old—that is, address yourself to some large proprietor who needs an assistant in managing his estate? ³ By superintending his works, helping to get in his crops, and guarding his property in general, you will be a benefit to the estate and be benefited in return.

Soc. Wouldn’t it be better to start work now that will serve you well in old age? For example, you could approach a large landowner who needs help managing his estate. ³ You could oversee the work, help bring in the crops, and protect his property in general. This would benefit the estate and benefit you in return.

I could not endure the yoke of slavery, Socrates! (he exclaimed).

I couldn't bear being a slave, Socrates! (he exclaimed).

Soc. And yet the heads of departments in a state are not regarded as adopting the badge of slavery because they manage the public property, but as having attained a higher degree of freedom rather.

Soc. And yet, state officials are not seen as slaves because they manage public property. Instead, they are seen as having greater freedom.

Euth. In a word, Socrates, the idea of being held to account to another is not at all to my taste.

Euth. In short, Socrates, I don't like the idea of being accountable to someone else at all.

Soc. And yet, Eutherus, it would be hard to find a work which did not involve some liability to account; in fact it is difficult to do anything without some mistake or other, and no less difficult, if you should succeed in doing it immaculately, to escape all unfriendly criticism. I wonder now whether you find it easy to get through your present occupations entirely without reproach. No? Let me tell you what you should do. You should avoid censorious persons and attach yourself to the considerate and kind-hearted, and in all your affairs accept with a good grace what you can and decline what you feel you cannot do. Whatever it be, do it heart and soul, and make it your finest work. ⁴ There lies the method at once to silence fault-finders and to minister help to your own difficulties. Life will flow smoothly, risks will be diminished, provision against old age secured.

Soc. And yet, Eutherus, it would be hard to find work for which you would not have to answer to someone. In fact, it is difficult to do anything without making some mistake. Even if you do something perfectly, it is just as difficult to escape all unfriendly criticism. I wonder whether you find it easy to do your present work without anyone finding fault. No? Let me tell you what you should do. Avoid people who are quick to find fault, and associate with those who are considerate and kind. In everything you do, willingly accept what you can do, and decline what you feel you cannot do. Whatever you undertake, do it with all your heart, and do it as well as you can. ⁴ This is the way both to silence fault-finders and to ease your own difficulties. Life will go smoothly, risks will be reduced, and you will have provided for your old age.