Julia López García – Socrates and Alcibiades

Julia López García – Master’s student in philosophy – Graduate in Global Studies & Humanities. Pompeu Fabra University.

Reading:

Socrates and Alcibiades (Sokrates und Alcibiades) by Friedrich Hölderlin (1770-1843).

Why,holy Socrates, do you always pay homage
To this young man? Are not greater things
known to you?
Why do you look upon him with love,
As you would look upon gods?”

He who has pondered deepest, loves what is
most alive,
He who has seen the world, understands
true virtue,
And in the end the wise
Wil often yield to Beauty.

—

Venerado Sócrates, ¿por qué siempre alabas
a este joven? ¿No conoces nada más grande?
¿Por qué con amor
lo miras como a los dioses?”

Quien piensa lo más vivo ama lo mas profundo,
comprende la juventud quien escruta en el mundo
y a menudo los sabios se inclinan
a la postre ante lo bello.