MINOS

318 d

ET. Yes.
SOC. Do you know, then, which of these were good kings? Minos and Rhadamanthys, sons of Zeus and Europa, to whom these laws belong.
ET. They say that Rhadamanthys was a just man, Socrates, but that Minos was something of a savage, harsh and unjust.
SOC. You are repeating an Athenian and tragic myth, my friend.
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ET. Why? Are these things not said about Minos?
SOC. Not by Homer and Hesiod, who are more persuasive than all the tragedians combined, from whom you are hearing these things.
ET. But what do they say about Minos?
SOC. I will tell you, so that you do not, like the multitude, commit impiety. For there is nothing more impious, nor anything one should be more cautious about, than to err in word or deed regarding the gods, and secondly, regarding divine men. One must always take great care when about to criticize or praise a man, lest one speak incorrectly. For this reason, one must learn to distinguish between good and bad men. For God feels indignation when one criticizes a man like oneself, or praises one who is the opposite—which is the good man. Do not think that stones, wood, birds, and snakes are holy, but humans are not. The good man is the holiest of all these, and the wicked man the most profane.
Now, I will tell you about Minos, as Homer and Hesiod praise him, so that you, being a human, do not err in word against a hero, a son of Zeus. For Homer, speaking of Crete, says that there are many people in it