Antidosis

Now you will appreciate even more clearly from the things which I am going to say that I am far from being a corrupter of our youth. For if I were guilty of this, Lysimachus would not be the one to be incensed in their behalf, nor anyone of his kind, but you would see the fathers and relatives of my pupils up in arms, framing writs and seeking to bring me to justice.[*](Cf. Plat. Apol. 33d.)

But instead of that they bring their sons to me and are ready to pay me money, and are rejoiced when they see them spending their days in my society,[*](Cf. Plat. Apol. 34a-b.) while the sycophants are the men who speak evil of me and hale me into court. And who more than these sycophants would like to see many of our citizens corrupted and depraved, since they know that when they live among such characters they wield great power,[*](Cf. Isoc. 8.131.) whereas when they fall into the hands of honorable and intelligent men, they are doomed to destruction?

Therefore these men are wise in seeking to do away with all studies which they consider will make men better, and so render them more intolerant of the depravities and intrigues of the sycophants. It is well for you, however, to take the opposite course and regard those pursuits as the best to which you see that these men are most inimical.