(In the Athenian democracy of Socrate's time, prosecutions could be initiated by any citizen or group of citizens. Trials were conducted before a jury of 500 citizens or group of citizens, selected by lot.)
Socrates: Now let us take up from the beginning the question, what the accusation is from which the false prejudice against me has arisen..."Socrates is a criminal and a busybody, investigating the things beneath the earth and in the heavens and making the weaker argument stronger and teaching others these same things."
Do you see, Meletus, that you are silent and cannot tell? And yet does it not seem to you disgraceful and a sufficient proof of what I say, that you have never cared about it? But tell, my good man, who makes them better?
Meletus (Leading the prosecution : "The laws."
Socrates: But that is not what I ask, most excellent one, but what man, who knows in the first place just this very thing, the laws.
Meletus: "These men, Socrates, the Jurors."
Socrates: What are you saying, Meletus? Are these gentlemen able to instruct the youth, and do they make them better?
Meletus: "Certainly."
Socrates: All, or some of them and others not?
Meletus: "All."
Socrates: Well said, by Hera, and this is a great plenty of helpers you speak of. But how about this: Do these listeners make them better, or not?
Meletus: "These also."
Socrates: And how about the member of the Boulé (City Council of 500 )?
Meletus: "Yes, the Boulé also."
Socrates: But, Meletus, those in the Ecclesia (Athenian assembly), the Ecclesiastai, don't corrupt the youth, do they? Or do they also all make them better?
Meletus: "They also."
Socrates: All the Athenians, then, as it seems, make them excellent, except myself, and I alone corrupt them. Is this what you mean?
Meletus: "Very decidedly, that is what I mean."
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Socrates telling the jury: If you should say to me in reply to this, "Socrates...we will let you go, on this condition, however, that you no longer spend your time in this investigation or in philosophy, and if you are caught doing so again you shall die." If you should let me go on this condition which I have mentioned, I should say to you, 'Men of Athens, I respect and love you, but I shall obey the god rather than you, and while I live and am able to continue, I shall never give up philosophy or stop exhorting you and pointing out the truth to any one of you whom I may meet..
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Socrates is found guilty...
Socrates: I am not grieved, men of Athens, at this vote of condemnation you have cast against me, and that for many reasons, among them the fact that your decision was not a surprise to me. I am much more surprised by the number of votes for and against it; for I did not expect so small a majority, but a large one. Now, it seems, if only thirty votes had been cast the other way, I should have been acquitted.
(Jury voted 280 for conviction, 220 for acquittal. In order to discourage frivolous or malicious prosecutions, Athenian law prescribed a fine against the accuser if less than one fifth of the jury voted for conviction).