But this is not difficult, O Athenians! to escape death; but it is much more difficult to avoid depravity, for it runs swifter than death. And now I, being slow and aged, am overtaken by the slower of the two; but my accusers, being strong and active, have been overtaken by the swifter, wickedness. And now I depart, condemned by you to death; but they condemned by truth, as guilty of iniquity and injustice: and I abide my sentence, and so do they. These things, perhaps, ought so to be, and I think that they are for the best.

Summary

In this quote, Socrates reflects on his impending death sentence and compares it to the societal depravity of his accusers. He acknowledges that escaping physical death is not difficult, but avoiding moral corruption is far more challenging, as it spreads quickly. Socrates claims that his age may have made him slower, resulting in his being condemned by a gradual, less egregious form of depravity; whereas his accusers, who possess strength and vitality, have succumbed to a more rapid and vile form of wickedness. Despite his own conviction, Socrates suggests that perhaps this outcome is for the best, accepting his fate while also implicating the guilt and injustice of his accusers.

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