The Philosopher Socrates

After Pericles died, Nicias became leader—honest but slow and hesitant. The philosopher Socrates was a stonecutter who spent every spare moment thinking and questioning. Like Anaxagoras, he doubted the Greek gods and believed in one God who was good, powerful, and just. He believed people should be gentle and forgive injuries—very different from ancient views of revenge. He practiced this at home with his cross wife Xanthippe. When she poured water over his head in anger, he calmly said, "After the thunder comes the rain."