Xenophon's best memorial of his old guide, philosopher, and friend is this work, in which Xenophon brought together in simple and direct form the views of life that had been made clear to himself by the teaching of Socrates. Xenophon is throughout opposing a plain tale to the false accusations against Socrates. He does not idealise, but he feels strongly, and he shows clearly the worth of the wisdom that touches at every point the actual conduct of the lives of men.(Summary by Craig Campbell)
Chapters
1 INTRODUCTION 5 min 2 BOOK 1, CHAPTER I. SOCRATES NOT A CONTEMNER OF THE GODS OF HIS COUNTRY, NOR AN INTRODUCER OF NEW ONES 11 min 3 BOOK 1, CHAPTER II. SOCRATES NOT A DEBAUCHER OF YOUTH 26 min 4 BOOK 1, CHAPTER III. HOW SOCRATES BEHAVED THROUGH THE WHOLE OF HIS LIFE 10 min 5 BOOK 1, CHAPTER IV. SOCRATES PROVETH THE EXISTENCE OF A DEITY 15 min 6 BOOK 1, CHAPTER V. THE PRAISE OF TEMPERANCE 3 min 7 BOOK 1, CHAPTER VI. THE DISPUTE OF SOCRATES WITH ANTIPHON, THE SOPHIST 7 min 8 BOOK 2, CHAPTER I. A CONFERENCE OF SOCRATES WITH ARISTIPPUS CONCERNING PLEASURE AND TEMPERANCE 23 min 9 BOOK 1, CHAPTER VII. IN WHAT MANNER SOCRATES DISSUADED MEN FROM SELF-CONCEIT AND OSTENTATION 2 min 10 BOOK 2, CHAPTER II. SOCRATES' DISCOURSE WITH HIS ELDEST SON LAMPROCLES CONCERNING THE RESPECT DUE TO PARENTS 8 min 11 BOOK 2, CHAPTER III. SOCRATES RECONCILES CHAEREPHON AND CHAERECRATES, TWO BROTHERS WHO WERE FORMERLY AT VARIANCE 7 min 12 BOOK 2, CHAPTER IV. A DISCOURSE OF SOCRATES CONCERNING FRIENDSHIP 4 min 13 BOOK 2, CHAPTER V. OF THE WORTH AND VALUE OF FRIENDS 3 min 14 BOOK 2, CHAPTER VI. OF THE CHOICE OF FRIENDS 21 min 15 BOOK 2, CHAPTER VII. SOCRATES SHOWETH ARISTARCHUS HOW TO GET RID OF POVERTY 11 min 16 BOOK 2, CHAPTER VIII. SOCRATES PERSUADES EUTHERUS TO ABANDON HIS FORMER WAY OF LIVING, AND TO BETAKE HIMSELF TO SOME MORE USEFUL AND HONOURABLE EMPLOYMENT 4 min 17 BOOK 2, CHAPTER IX. IN WHAT MANNER SOCRATES TAUGHT HIS FRIEND CRITO TO RID HIMSELF OF SOME INFORMERS, WHO TOOK THE ADVANTAGE OF HIS EASY TEMPER 5 min 18 BOOK 2, CHAPTER X. SOCRATES ADVISES DIODORUS TO DO JUSTICE TO THE MERIT OF HERMOGENES, AND TO ACCEPT OF HIS SERVICE AND FRIENDSHIP 3 min 19 BOOK 3, CHAPTER I. OF THE QUALIFICATIONS OF A GENERAL 7 min 20 BOOK 3, CHAPTER II. THE CHARACTER OF A GOOD PRINCE 2 min 21 BOOK 3, CHAPTER III. ON THE BUSINESS OF A GENERAL OF HORSE 8 min 22 BOOK 3, CHAPTER IV. A DISCOURSE OF SOCRATES WITH NICOMACHIDES, IN WHICH HE SHOWETH THAT A MAN SKILFUL IN HIS OWN PROPER BUSINESS, AND WHO MANAGES HIS AFFAIRS WITH PRUDENCE AND SAGACITY, MAY MAKE, WHEN OCCASION OFFERS, A GOOD GENERAL 9 min 23 BOOK 3, CHAPTER V. A CONVERSATION BETWEEN SOCRATES AND PERICLES CONCERNING THE THEN PRESENT STATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ATHENS, IN WHICH SOCRATES LAYS DOWN A METHOD BY WHICH THE ATHENIANS MAY RECOVER THEIR ANCIENT LUSTRE AND REPUTATION 14 min 24 BOOK 3, CHAPTER VI. SOCRATES DISSUADES GLAUCON, A VERY FORWARD YOUTH, FROM TAKING UPON HIM THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC, FOR WHICH HE WAS UNFIT 10 min 25 BOOK 3, CHAPTER VII. SOCRATES PERSUADETH CHARMIDAS, A PERSON OF MERIT AND GREAT CAPACITY, BUT VERY MODEST AND DIFFIDENT OF HIMSELF, TO UNDERTAKE THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC 5 min 26 BOOK 3, CHAPTER VIII. SOCRATES' DISPUTE WITH ARISTIPPUS CONCERNING THE GOOD AND BEAUTIFUL 6 min 27 BOOK 3, CHAPTER IX. SOCRATES RETURNS SUITABLE ANSWERS TO A VARIETY OF QUESTIONS PROPOSED TO HIM 8 min 28 BOOK 3, CHAPTER X. SOCRATES, IN CONVERSATION WITH SEVERAL ARTIFICERS, A PAINTER, A STATUARY, AND AN ARMOURER, SHOWETH HIS SKILL AND GOOD TASTE IN THE FINER ARTS 12 min 29 BOOK 3, CHAPTER XI. DISCOURSE OF SOCRATES WITH THEODOTA, AN ATHENIAN LADY, OF NO GOOD CHARACTER; WHEREIN HE ENDEAVOURETH, IN THE MOST ARTFUL AND ENGAGING MANNER, TO WIN HER OVER FROM THE CRIMINAL PLEASURES TO WHICH SHE WAS ADDICTED UNTO THE SUBLIMER AND MORE INNOCENT DELIGHTS OF PHILOSOPHY AND VIRTUE 6 min 30 BOOK 3, CHAPTER XII. OF THE NECESSITY OF EXERCISE TO HEALTH AND STRENGTH OF BODY 4 min 31 BOOK 3, CHAPTER XIII. SEVERAL APOPHTHEGMS OF SOCRATES 4 min 32 BOOK 3, CHAPTER XIV. SOCRATES PROPOSETH SOME REGULATIONS FOR THE BETTER MANAGEMENT OF THEIR PUBLIC FEASTS 4 min 33 BOOK 4, CHAPTER I. THAT PERSONS OF GOOD NATURAL PARTS, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO HAVE PLENTIFUL FORTUNES, OUGHT NOT TO THINK THEMSELVES ABOVE INSTRUCTION. ON THE CONTRARY, THE ONE OUGHT, BY THE AID OF LEARNING, TO IMPROVE THEIR GENIUS; THE OTHER, BY THE ACQUISITION OF KNOWLEDGE, TO RENDER THEMSELVES VALUABLE 5 min 34 BOOK 4, CHAPTER II. CONFERENCE BETWEEN SOCRATES AND EUTHYDEMUS, IN WHICH HE CONVINCES THAT YOUNG MAN, WHO HAD A GREAT OPINION OF HIMSELF, THAT HE KNEW NOTHING 32 min 35 BOOK 4, CHAPTER III. PROOFS OF A KIND SUPERINTENDING PROVIDENCE., WHAT RETURNS OF GRATITUDE AND DUTY MEN OUGHT TO MAKE TO GOD FOR HIS FAVOURS., AN HONEST AND GOOD LIFE THE BEST SONG OF THANKSGIVING OR THE MOST ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE TO THE DEITY 14 min 36 BOOK 4, CHAPTER IV. INSTANCES OF THE INVIOLABLE INTEGRITY OF SOCRATES., HIS CONVERSATION WITH HIPPIAS CONCERNING JUSTICE 21 min 37 BOOK 4, CHAPTER V. OF THE MISCHIEFS OF INTEMPERANCE, AND THE ADVANTAGES OF SOBRIETY 8 min 38 BOOK 4, CHAPTER VI. SOCRATES' FRIENDS ATTAIN, BY FREQUENTING HIS CONVERSATION, AN EXCELLENT WAY OF REASONING., THE METHOD HE OBSERVED IN ARGUING SHOWN IN SEVERAL INSTANCES., OF THE DIFFERENT SORTS OF GOVERNMENT., HOW SOCRATES DEFENDED HIS OPINIONS 14 min 39 BOOK 4, CHAPTER VII. METHOD TO BE OBSERVED IN STUDY., ARTS AND SCIENCES NO FURTHER USEFUL, THAN THEY CONTRIBUTE TO RENDER MEN WISER, BETTER, OR HAPPIER., VAIN AND UNPROFITABLE KNOWLEDGE TO BE REJECTED 7 min 40 BOOK 4, CHAPTER VIII. BEHAVIOUR OF SOCRATES FROM THE TIME OF HIS CONDEMNATION TO HIS DEATH., HIS CHARACTER SUMMED UP IN A FEW WORDS 6 min
