In This Selection from the Apology, Plato Recounts the Trial

In this selection from the Apology, Plato recounts the trial of Socrates, accused of corrupting the youth of Athens and not believing in the gods. Socrates defends himself, declaring that he is guilty only of asking probing questions of men who claim to be wise, thus exposing their ignorance. Unlike many who pretend to be wise, Socrates professes no wisdom yet is wiser than most in that he does not claim to know what he in fact does not know. Nevertheless, he tells the court that the good life is one in which we continually search for the truth and examine our lives in a never-ending pursuit of human excellence. He insists, "No greater good can happen to a man than to discuss human excellence every day and the other matters about which you have heard me arguing and examining myself and others, and that an unexamined life is not worth living." Socrates is found guilty by the court and is given the sentence of death or exile from Athens. He chooses death, staying true to his principles to the end.
-Socrates wrote several classic dialogues.