Socrates Refusal toFlee Athens

"Courage does not lie within an action, but within a person." Socrates believed strongly in these words, but why would a man face his own death, especially when an option to avoid his demise is readily available? During his Apology Socrates said; "For anything that man can tell, death may be the greatest good that can happen to them..." and continued by stating that he considered both conceivable states of death a gain. One which …

…of God that he take the poison, and not escape from persecution. In choosing death over exile Socrates also stood firm in the lessons that he and his followers had learned through their conversations and sessions of questioning. Perhaps most importantly by deciding not to flee from Athens, Socrates remained true to his virtue. All things mentioned and considered, Socrates said more with his death than he ever could have had he fled from Athens.