Plato Apology by James J. Helm 29a4 – b9 page 50

Question 1

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[29a4 – 29a6] τὸ γάρ τοι θάνατον δεδιέναι, ὦ ἄνδρες, οὐδὲν ἄλλο ἐστιν ἤ δοκεῖν σοφὸν εἶναι μὴ ὄντα· δοκεῖν γὰρ εἰδέναι ἐστὶν ἅ οὐκ οἶδεν.

Answer 1

For doubtless to fear death, gentlemen, is nothing other than to think one is wise when one is not wise; for it is to think to know what one doesn’t know.

Question 2

τοι

Answer 2

(post-positive enclitic particle): you know (or rather, ‘y’know’, ‘y’see’); doubtless

Question 3

δεδιέναι

Answer 3

perfect active infinitive of δείδω, I fear, I dread

Question 4

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ἤ

Answer 4

(1) either, or
(2) than (after a comparison)

Question 5

ὄντα

Answer 5

Neuter plural of the present participle of εἰμί (eimí, “to be”), thus literally ‘things that are; existing things’.

Question 6

δοκεῖν

Answer 6

present infinitive of δοκέω
think, think good; seem, seem true; be thought, be reputed
here = “think”

Question 7

γάρ

Answer 7

(post-positive causal particle from γε + ἄρα): for, since

Question 8

εἰδέναι

Answer 8

perfect active infinitive of οἶδα (oîda), to know

Question 9

ἅ

Answer 9

neuter nominative/accusative plural of ὅς, who, which, that

Question 10

οἶδεν

Answer 10

perfect active indicative 3rd person singular of οἶδα, he/she/it knows

Question 11

ἅ οὐκ οἶδεν

Answer 11

“what (one) doesn’t know”; with the indefinite third-person subject omitted (*S931b).

Question 12

[29a6 – 29b1] οἶδε μὲν γὰρ οὐδεὶς τὸν θάνατον οὐδ’ εἰ τυγχάνει τᾠ ἀνθρώπῳ μέγιστον ὄν τῶν ἀγαθῶν, δεδίασι δ’ ὡς εὖ εἰδότες ὅτι μέγιστον τῶν κακῶν ἐστι.

Answer 12

For no one knows death, not even whether it happens to be the greatest of good for a man, but they have feared it just as they knew well that it is the greatest of evils.

Question 13

οὐδέ

Answer 13

and not, but not, nor, not even

Question 14

οὐδέ…οὐδέ

Answer 14

neither…nor

Question 15

οὐδείς, οὐδεμία, οὐδέν

Answer 15

no one, nothing

Question 16

εἰ

Answer 16

if, whether

Question 17

τυγχάνει

Answer 17

third-person singular present active indicative of τυγχάνω (tunkhánō): chance, happen

Question 18

τυγχάνει ὄν

Answer 18

happens to be, is
A supplementary participle often has the greater importance

Question 19

δεδίασι

Answer 19

3rd person plural active indicative perfect of δείδω, I fear, I dread

the use of a plural verb with οὐδείς is not uncommon (S950, S1044 & 19e6 note)

Question 20

ὡς

Answer 20

when

also relative adverb:

the introduction to similes
(a) like as, as, just as
(b) according as

Question 21

εἰδότες

Answer 21

participle, plural perfect active masculine nominative of οἶδα – see “Some Notes on the Perfect Tense in Greek” for information on perfect participles

Question 22

ὅτι

Answer 22

(1) that (I, II)
(2) because (II)
(3) = ὅ τι from ὅστις: whatever (II).

Question 23

[29b1 – 29b2] καίτοι πῶς οὐκ ἀμαθία ἐστὶν αὕτη ἡ ἐπονείδιστος, ἡ τοῦ οἴεσθαι εἰδέναι ἅ οὐκ οἶδεν;

Answer 23

And yet how is it not the most blameworthy ignorance, to think one knows what one does not know?

Question 24

καίτοι

Answer 24

and yet

Question 25

πῶς

Answer 25

how?

Question 26

ἀμαθία, ἡ

Answer 26

ignorance, lack of learning, folly

Question 27

ἐπονείδιστος

Answer 27

adjective, singular feminine nominative, to be reproached, disgraceful, shameful, blameworthy

Question 28

οἴεσθαι

Answer 28

present middle passive infinitive of οἴομαι: think, suppose (II, PP)

Question 29

[29b2 – 29b8] ἐγὼ δ’, ὦ ἄνδρες, τούτῳ καὶ ἐνταῦθα ἴσως διαφέρω τῶν πολλῶν ἀνθρώπων, καὶ εἰ δή τῳ σοφώτερός του φαίην εἶναι, τούτῳ ἄν, ὅτι οὐκ εἰδὼς ἱκανῶς περὶ τῶν ἐν Ἅιδου οὕτω καὶ οἴομαι οὐκ εἰδέναι· τὸ δὲ ἀδικεῖν καὶ ἀπειθεῖν τᾠ βελτίονι καὶ θεῷ καῖ ἀνθρώπῳ, ὅτι κακὸν καὶ αἰσχρόν ἐστιν οἶδα.

Answer 29

And I, gentlemen, to this extent also here perhaps differ from most men, and if I now claim to be wiser in anything, it would be in this, that not knowing enough of the things in Hades, also I do not think I know; but I do know that to do wrong and be disobedient to a better, both god and man, that I know is evil and shameful.

Question 30

τούτῳ

Answer 30

“in this” (dat. of respect), or “to this extent” (dat. of degree of difference)

Question 31

ἐνταῦθα

Answer 31

here, there, at this point (II, PP)

Question 32

ἴσως

Answer 32

equally, possibly, perhaps, very likely

Question 33

διαφέρω

Answer 33

“be different from”; or (as here) “be superior to” (+ gen. of comparison)

Question 34

δή

Answer 34

(post-positive particle): clearly, apparently, manifestly, so, now, really (I, II)

Question 35

τινος

Answer 35

unstressed form of τινός (tinós), masculine/feminine/neuter genitive singular of τις (tis), 3rd declension enclitic pronoun, someone; something; anyone; anything; enclitic adjective, a certain; some; a, an

Question 36

φαίην

Answer 36

verb, 1st singular present optative active of φημί: say, assert (I, II, PP)

Question 37

εἰδὼς

Answer 37

perfect active participle of οἶδα (oîda), I know

Question 38

ἱκανῶς, -ή, -όν

Answer 38

fitting, sufficient, enough; competent (II)

Question 39

εἰδέναι

Answer 39

perfect active infinitive of οἶδα, I know

Question 40

ἀδικεῖν

Answer 40

present active infinitive of ἀδικέω (adikéō): be unjust (ἀδκικος), be wrong, act unjustly, do wrong, do evil (II); trans.: wrong, harm someone

Question 41

ἀπειθεῖν

Answer 41

present active infinitive of ἀπειθέω: be disobedient, do not obey

Question 42

βελτίονι

Answer 42

masculine/feminine/neuter dative singular of βελτίων, comparative degree of ἀγαθός (agathós): better

Question 43

πρὸ οὖν τῶν κακῶν ὥν οἶδα ὅτι κακά ἐστιν, ἅ μὴ οἶδα εἰ καὶ ἀγαθὰ ὄντα τυγχάνει οὐδέποτε φοβήσομαι οὐδὲ φεύζομαι.

Answer 43

So instead of these evils that I know are bad, never will I fear or avoid those things which I don’t know whether they happen to be good.

Question 44

πρό

Answer 44

(prep. with gen.): before (I, II), in preference to (II); in place of, instead of

Question 45

οὖν

Answer 45

(post-positive particle): and so, then, therefore, accordingly

Question 46

κακά

Answer 46

evil things
nominative/accusative/vocative plural neuter of κακός (kakós)

Question 47

ὄντα

Answer 47

neuter plural of the present participle of εἰμί (eimí, “to be”), thus literally ‘things that are; existing things’

Question 48

ὄντα τυγχάνει

Answer 48

happens to be

Question 49

οὐδέποτε

Answer 49

“not at any time”, “never” (II)

Question 50

φεύζομαι

Answer 50

future 1st person singular middle of φεύγω:

(1) flee, avoid (I, II, PP).
(2) go into exile, be banished.
(3) be charged, be a defendant in a suit at court.

(May function as a passive verb: be accused, with ὑπό + gen. of agent).