Crito

by Plato

SOCRATES: But why, my dear Crito, should we care about the opinion of the many? Good men, and they are the only persons who are worth considering, will think of these things truly as they occurred.

Socrates is responding to Crito by asserting that good people within society will tend to believe the truth and not attempt to distort it.

No man should bring children into the world who is unwilling to persevere to the end in their nurture and education.

Crito is attempting to convince Socrates that since Socrates has chosen death he is leaving behind his family, his children, and that he will be betraying that which he has sworn himself to in life. Socrates postulates that he has done enough to amend a proper relationship with his family and that they will be fine after his passing.

SOCRATES: And the opinions of the wise are good, and the opinions of the unwise are evil? CRITO: Certainly. SOCRATES: And what was said about another matter? Is the pupil who devotes himself to the practice of gymnastics supposed to attend to the praise and blame and opinion of every man, or of one man only—his physician or trainer, whoever he may be? CRITO: Of one man only. SOCRATES: And he ought to fear the censure and welcome the praise of that one only, and not of the many?

Those who have the knowledge and mastery in a specific field should only be the ones who may criticize your work in said field. The opinions of the untrained many falter when juxtaposed to the facts and experience the trainer or master has.

SOCRATES: Then we ought not to retaliate or render evil for evil to anyone, whatever evil we may have suffered from him.

Responding with violence to violence is not a means to an end.