Crito

Crito is a philosophical dialogue written by Plato and traditionally dated to around 360 BC. It takes place in the final days of Socrates' life, after he has been condemned to death by the city of Athens.

The dialogue begins when Crito visits Socrates in prison and urges him to escape. He argues that his friends can arrange his rescue and that remaining in prison would mean accepting an unjust sentence and abandoning his responsibilities to his family and followers.

Socrates refuses to flee, insisting that a person should never respond to injustice by committing another injustice. Through an imagined conversation with the Laws of Athens, he argues that escaping would violate the legal system under which he has lived and would damage the principles he has defended throughout his life.

Crito explores enduring questions about justice, personal conscience, obedience to the law, and civic responsibility. The dialogue presents the conflict between self-preservation and the commitment to live according to moral principles, even when doing so carries the highest possible cost.

"SOCRATES: Why have you come at this hour, Crito? it must be quite early?
CRITO: Yes, certainly.
SOCRATES: What is the exact time?
CRITO: The dawn is breaking.
SOCRATES: I wonder that the keeper of the prison would let you in."

This edition was translated by Benjamin Jowett (1817–1893).