Aesop's Fables, translated by Laura Gibbs (2002)
94. SOCRATES AND HIS FRIENDS
Perry 500 (Phaedrus
3.9)
The word 'friend' is in common use but true friends are hard to find.
Socrates had erected for himself a very modest house - and I myself would
even be willing to die as Socrates died if I could achieve an equal fame,
yes, I would be willing to suffer the same public disapproval if I too
could be vindicated after death! Anyway, just as you would expect on such
an occasion, one of his neighbours had to ask, 'Why is it, Socrates, that
someone like you would build himself such a tiny little house?' 'Ah,'
said Socrates, 'if only I could fill it with true friends!'
Note: The Greek philosopher Socrates
was executed by the state of Athens in 399 B.C.E. (see Fable
532 for a fable attributed to Socrates).
 Source:
Aesop's Fables. A new translation by Laura
Gibbs.
Oxford University Press (World's Classics): Oxford, 2002.
NOTE: New
cover, with new ISBN, published in 2008; contents of book unchanged.
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