Socrates: A man in control of himself

Socrates offered prayer facing the rising Sun as was the common practice among the ancients. He spent hours in contemplation and exercised great self-control in every area of his life.

Leo Strauss believed that Socrates' moderation was not merely a concession to political stability and good citizenship, but more importantly, it addresses the question of how we come to truth. Strauss wrote: “Socrates implied that disregarding the opinions about the nature of things would amount to abandoning the most important access to reality which we have, or the most important vestiges of truth which are within our reach” (Natural Right and History, p. 124)

Listen to this YouTube video in which Bertrand Russell discusses Socrates appearance, fortitude and influence.