The Wisdom of Socrates: Why Doing Wrong is Worse Than Suffering It

Exploring the Socratic View on Power, Cognitive Errors, and the True Source of Strength

*This is Part IV of a series on How To Think Like Socrates by Donald Robertson*

Read Part I here:

https://modernbookclub.substack.com/p/living-wisely-lessons-from-socrates?r=1z39b7

Read Part II here:

https://modernbookclub.substack.com/p/aspasia-socrates-and-the-love-of?r=1z39b7

Read Part III here:

https://modernbookclub.substack.com/p/the-wisdom-of-knowing-what-you-dont?r=1z39b7

"To do wrong is a greater misfortune than to suffer wrong."

Power is often seen as the ability to control others—determining life or death, imprisoning people, or enforcing one's will. Socrates argues that this is no true power at all if it is not exercised with virtue and wisdom. What good is power if it ultimately harms both the wielder and those around them? A person consumed by power, acting without a pursuit of goodness, is the most unfortunate of all because they never learn from their mistakes. They do not receive the just consequences of their actions and continue living unjustly, which, to Socrates, is the worst fate one can suffer.

Socrates' argument in this dialogue reveals a deeper truth: we are not as knowledgeable as we believe ourselves to be. What we think we want—or what society convinces us we should want—is not always what is best for us. Chasing power or wealth does not bring happiness; rather, it merely replaces old burdens and responsibilities with new, more difficult ones.

"It is a remarkable thing if circumstances considered by many to be the greatest of evils can be turned to some good."

This insight leads to one of Socrates’ most impactful teachings—that everything good comes from within. This is best illustrated in his dialogues on death. He explains that fearing death is irrational because, if we possess a soul and the ability to think, we can still engage in philosophy and live virtuously—both of which originate within us. However, if we lose our ability to think, then we cease to experience life at all. This notion aligns closely with the foundation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): all our fears and problems are internal and cognitive. Often, we fear something without truly examining why, allowing our unexamined thoughts to dictate our reality.

CBT expands on this concept by identifying four common thinking errors that people tend to fall into:

• Exaggeration – Viewing situations in extremes (black or white, friend or enemy) without acknowledging middle ground.

• Selective Thinking – Focusing only on negative aspects while ignoring relevant positive information.

• Jumping to Conclusions – Assuming we know what others are thinking or convincing ourselves that we understood something in hindsight.

• Overgeneralization – Applying specific experiences broadly, assuming that because something is true in one instance, it must always be true.

These cognitive distortions can also fuel anger, something Socrates frequently warns against. Anger often arises from our perception that we have been wronged or treated unjustly. When we fall into thinking errors, our anger becomes exaggerated:

• We perceive the wrongdoing as intentional and the perpetrator as wholly evil, justifying revenge.

• We ignore any redeeming qualities of the person and focus solely on their actions.

• We assume, without evidence, that the harm was deliberate.

Socrates highlights that it is not the event itself that causes anger, but rather our interpretation of it.

As Athens began its decline, Socrates continued to challenge its rulers. The city eventually fell to the Spartans, who installed a tyrannical regime known as the Thirty Tyrants. This period marked the true downfall of Athens, as its rulers clung desperately to power, executing and exiling those who opposed them. Their unchecked anger and fear led them to commit greater injustices.

Socrates, remaining steadfast in his pursuit of wisdom, sought to show them the error of their ways. He argued that their retaliatory violence harmed them more than it did their citizens. In their desperation, they sentenced him to death, seeing his questioning as a threat to their authority. Yet, even in the face of death, Socrates refused to abandon his love of philosophy. He demonstrated that while they could imprison or kill his body, they could never take away his mind.

This is the true essence of Socrates' teachings and the Socratic method—leading us toward deeper thinking and a clearer understanding of truth. To embrace this, one must be willing to set aside ego and scrutinize even their most strongly held beliefs. Socrates achieved this through dialogue with his closest friends, but anyone can practice it—even alone—by questioning everything and refusing to accept anything at face value. By following Socrates’ example, you, too, can attain true wisdom—if only you seek it.