Donald Robertson

So the goal is basically to convert enemies into friends, not just to kind of punish or harm your enemies. Socrates was concerned that if we try to harm our friends from a particular point of view, first of all, we're missing out. If we try to harm our enemies, first of all, we're missing out on the opportunity to convert them into allies or friends.

And secondly, we might kind of end up making them worse enemies by punishing them or harming them in a particular way. And actually, that's kind of what happened to Athens, right? There were certain more kind of aggressive, hawkish political leaders that took control of the Athenian assembly and they committed genocide.

And secondly, we might kind of end up making them worse enemies by punishing them or harming them in a particular way. And actually, that's kind of what happened to Athens, right? There were certain more kind of aggressive, hawkish political leaders that took control of the Athenian assembly and they committed genocide.

And secondly, we might kind of end up making them worse enemies by punishing them or harming them in a particular way. And actually, that's kind of what happened to Athens, right? There were certain more kind of aggressive, hawkish political leaders that took control of the Athenian assembly and they committed genocide.

And this really led to Athens' downfall because Athens' potential allies no longer trusted them and turned against them. So their regime collapsed. They had a catastrophic military defeat in Sicily that can be seen as the consequence of this kind of more short-sighted, more aggressive attitude towards other states.

And this really led to Athens' downfall because Athens' potential allies no longer trusted them and turned against them. So their regime collapsed. They had a catastrophic military defeat in Sicily that can be seen as the consequence of this kind of more short-sighted, more aggressive attitude towards other states.

And this really led to Athens' downfall because Athens' potential allies no longer trusted them and turned against them. So their regime collapsed. They had a catastrophic military defeat in Sicily that can be seen as the consequence of this kind of more short-sighted, more aggressive attitude towards other states.

So Socrates does have these doctrines, and there are many, many other ones that people derive from what he's saying, but we should be a little bit careful about making them into roles that are too rigid. One of his nicest ones that's a little bit different, for instance, is Socrates, according to Xenophon, Socrates repeatedly said that we should eat to live rather than live to eat.

So Socrates does have these doctrines, and there are many, many other ones that people derive from what he's saying, but we should be a little bit careful about making them into roles that are too rigid. One of his nicest ones that's a little bit different, for instance, is Socrates, according to Xenophon, Socrates repeatedly said that we should eat to live rather than live to eat.

So Socrates does have these doctrines, and there are many, many other ones that people derive from what he's saying, but we should be a little bit careful about making them into roles that are too rigid. One of his nicest ones that's a little bit different, for instance, is Socrates, according to Xenophon, Socrates repeatedly said that we should eat to live rather than live to eat.

In general, he thought people were too much duped by appearances. So they were too much swayed by short-term pleasure and pain. And he thought we should think more carefully about whether something is actually good for our health or not, rather than just whether it tastes nice or doesn't taste nice. We should be thinking about the reality of stuff beyond the appearances.

In general, he thought people were too much duped by appearances. So they were too much swayed by short-term pleasure and pain. And he thought we should think more carefully about whether something is actually good for our health or not, rather than just whether it tastes nice or doesn't taste nice. We should be thinking about the reality of stuff beyond the appearances.

In general, he thought people were too much duped by appearances. So they were too much swayed by short-term pleasure and pain. And he thought we should think more carefully about whether something is actually good for our health or not, rather than just whether it tastes nice or doesn't taste nice. We should be thinking about the reality of stuff beyond the appearances.

Another one of his little sayings that's quite well known is, that we should be as we wish to appear. He thought, again, we're misled into focusing too much on appearances. We want to appear confident. Socrates said it would be better to actually become confident if you want to appear confident.

Another one of his little sayings that's quite well known is, that we should be as we wish to appear. He thought, again, we're misled into focusing too much on appearances. We want to appear confident. Socrates said it would be better to actually become confident if you want to appear confident.

Another one of his little sayings that's quite well known is, that we should be as we wish to appear. He thought, again, we're misled into focusing too much on appearances. We want to appear confident. Socrates said it would be better to actually become confident if you want to appear confident.

If you focus too much on faking it or the appearances, that can kind of lead to a more superficial approach. It could be misleading it. You could get sucked into deception of other people. It would be better for you to actually become confident. People came to him saying, Socrates, how can I make myself seem like a good friend?

If you focus too much on faking it or the appearances, that can kind of lead to a more superficial approach. It could be misleading it. You could get sucked into deception of other people. It would be better for you to actually become confident. People came to him saying, Socrates, how can I make myself seem like a good friend?

If you focus too much on faking it or the appearances, that can kind of lead to a more superficial approach. It could be misleading it. You could get sucked into deception of other people. It would be better for you to actually become confident. People came to him saying, Socrates, how can I make myself seem like a good friend?

And Socrates said it would be better to become a good friend in reality.