For neither in war nor yet at law ought any man to use every way of escaping death.
But I thought that I ought not to do anything common or mean in the hour of danger: nor do I now repent of the manner of my defence, and I would rather die having spoken after my manner, than speak in your manner and live. But I had not the boldness or impudence or inclination to address you as you would have liked me to address you, weeping and wailing and lamenting, and saying and doing many things which you have been accustomed to hear from others, and which, as I say, are unworthy of me. Not so the deficiency which led to my conviction was not of words - certainly not. And I have another thing to say to them: You think that I was convicted through deficiency of words - I mean, that if I had thought fit to leave nothing undone, nothing unsaid, I might have gained an acquittal. I am speaking now only to those of you who have condemned me to death. For I am far advanced in years, as you may perceive, and not far from death. If you had waited a little while, your desire would have been fulfilled in the course of nature. “Not much time will be gained, O Athenians, in return for the evil name which you will get from the detractors of the city, who will say that you killed Socrates, a wise man for they will call me wise even although I am not wise when they want to reproach you.
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