n. As he observes, the soul of Athens needs improved virtue and wisdom, while living in exile or censored silence would thus amount to death of the soul, which is intolerable. "The difficulty," he says, "is not in avoiding death, but in avoiding unrighteousness; for that runs faster than death" (Apology 27). Socrates predicts that both Athens and accusers will suffer by his death, which will expose their evil just as his questions have always exposed weak arguments and opinions.
I depart hence condemned by you to suffer the penalty of death, and they, too, go their ways condemned by the truth to suffer the penalty of villainy and wrong; and I must abide by my award--let them abide by theirs" (Apology 27).
If what is required of physical life is to acquiesce in the death of virtue, Socrates sees that physical death "will be an unspeakable gain" (Apology 28). He takes the view that "no evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death" (Apology 29). He embraces physical death to save virtue.
...