Plato's Apology 25 C - 26 A

Defense Against the Second Accusers

That it is better to live among good citizens than bad citizens

[Meletus 10] "Certainly."

[Socrates 12] Is there then anyone who prefers to be injured by his associates rather than benefited? Answer, my good man; for the law orders you to answer. Is there anyone who prefers to be injured?

[Meletus 11] "Of course not."

[Socrates 13] Come then, do you hale me in here on the ground that I am corrupting the youth and making them worse voluntarily or involuntarily?

[Meletus 12] "Voluntarily I say."

[Socrates 14] What then, Meletus? Are you at your age so much wiser than I at my age, that you have recognized that the evil always do some evil to those nearest them, and the good some good; whereas I have reached such a depth of ignorance that I do not even know this, that if I make anyone of my associates bad I am in danger of getting some harm from him, so that I do this great evil voluntarily, as you say? I don't believe this, Meletus, nor do I think anyone else in the world does! but either I do not corrupt them, or if I corrupt them, I do it involuntarily, so that you are lying in both events. But if I corrupt them involuntarily, for such involuntary errors the law is not to hale people into court, but to take them and instruct and admonish them in private. For it is clear that if I am told about it, I shall stop doing that which I do involuntarily. But you avoided associating with me and instructing me, and were unwilling to do so, but you hale me in here, where it is the law to hale in those who need punishment, not instruction.

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