But this is not difficult, O Athenians! to escape death…
“But this is not difficult, O Athenians! to escape death; but it is much more difficult to avoid depravity, for it runs swifter than death. And now I, being slow and aged, am overtaken by the slower of the two; but my accusers, being strong and active, have been overtaken by the swifter, wickedness. And now I depart, condemned by you to death; but they condemned by truth, as guilty of iniquity and injustice: and I abide my sentence, and so do they. These things, perhaps, ought so to be, and I think that they are for the best.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Avoiding moral decay is harder than avoiding death; decay spreads quickly and overtakes even the wise.
In simple terms: Moral corruption spreads faster than death.
Key Takeaway
Guard against ethical decline.
Themes
ethics
mortality
decay
Mood
cautionary
thought‑provoking
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- political leadership
- personal integrity
- societal reform
Key Concepts
philosophy
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- What personal habits protect you from moral decay?
- How can societies curb the spread of corruption?
A Different Perspective
Even wise individuals can be overtaken by widespread corruption.