关于"牛虻"

4. 苏格拉底与牛虻 -- “我是上帝派遣给雅典城的牛虻" "I am the gadfly of the Athenian people, given to them by God"

Socrates as the “gadfly” of the state (4thC BC)
oll.libertyfund.org/quotes/341

Plato in his Apology for the life of Socrates reminds us that all societies need a “gadfly” to sting the “steed” of state into acknowledging its proper duties and obligations:

"I am the gadfly of the Athenian people, given to them by God, and they will never have another, if they kill me. And now, Athenians, I am not going to argue for my own sake, as you may think, but for yours, that you may not sin against the God by condemning me, who am his gift to you. For if you kill me you will not easily find a successor to me, who, if I may use such a ludicrous figure of speech, am a sort of gadfly, given to the state by God; and the state is a great and noble steed who is tardy in his motions owing to his very size, and requires to be stirred into life. I am that gadfly which God has attached to the state, and all day long 1and in all places am always fastening upon you, arousing and persuading and reproaching you. You will not easily find another like me, and therefore I would advise you to spare me."


向死而生的苏格拉底
lishigushi.h.baike.com/article-574748.html

苏格拉底（约公元前469－前399年）是世界古代历史上最著名的思想家，曾被后世誉为希腊的耶稣，西方的孔子。可就是这样一位先哲，却被莫须有的罪名推上法庭，糊里糊涂地被用毒酒处死在监狱中，这实在是令后世人疑惑不解。

时光倒流到公元前399年，希腊雅典的一个普通法院里，正在审理一起政治犯的案件，被告就是已经七十多岁的苏格拉底，他是以“亵渎神灵，蛊惑青年”、“煽动反民主情绪”两项罪名受到起诉的。面对法庭的审判，苏格拉底慷慨激昂，侃侃而谈：“雅典的兄弟们，我敬爱你们；但是我将服从的是上帝，不是你们，只要我有生命与力量，我将永不停止宣扬与传授哲学。……我是上帝派遣给雅典城的牛虻；我们的国家像一匹硕大高贵的骏马，由于它体积大、行动迟缓，需要时时叮咬它，才能使它精神焕发。所以我总是跟着你们，说服你们，并且在你们办事不公正的时候责备你们。”但是，雅典这匹骏马却不喜欢牛虻的叮咬，执意想把这只“牛虻”消灭掉。一个月以后，苏格拉底在狱中接过当局为他准备好的致命毒酒，镇定自若的一饮而尽，永远地离开了他深爱的雅典。
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