Artists & Writers · Ancient World
Socrates’s Last Words
“Crito, we owe a cock to Asclepius. Please, don't forget to pay the debt.”— Socrates, 399 BC
Who Was Socrates?
Socrates is considered the father of Western philosophy. He developed the Socratic method of inquiry and taught Plato, whose writings preserved his ideas for posterity. He wrote nothing himself.
The Final Moments
Condemned to death for impiety and corrupting Athenian youth, Socrates drank hemlock surrounded by his disciples. His last words requested a ritual offering to Asclepius, god of medicine.
Are These Words Verified?
Plato's Phaedo presents itself as Phaedo's eyewitness account, written perhaps 20-30 years after Socrates' death. While Plato is generally reliable, the dialogue form allows for dramatic embellishment.
Sources
- academic Plato's Phaedo
- academic Xenophon's accounts
- academic Ancient Greek sources
Legacy
Socrates' method of questioning and his willingness to die for his beliefs made him the model philosopher. His influence on Western thought cannot be overstated.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were Socrates’s last words?
“Crito, we owe a cock to Asclepius. Please, don't forget to pay the debt.”
How did Socrates die?
Socrates died on 399 BC at the age of 71. Cause of death: Execution by hemlock poisoning.
Were Socrates’s last words documented?
Plato's Phaedo presents itself as Phaedo's eyewitness account, written perhaps 20-30 years after Socrates' death. While Plato is generally reliable, the dialogue form allows for dramatic embellishment.
More from Artists & Writers
See all →
Oscar Wilde
“Either that wallpaper goes, or I do.”
Mark Twain
“Goodbye. If we meet—”
Salvador Dalí
“Where is my clock?”
Vincent van Gogh
“La tristesse durera toujours. (The sadness will last forever.)”