Which languages can I read Socrates of Athens in?

English, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish and Chinese. Pick the language you want to read and the one to keep beside it: every paragraph sits next to its translation, so you can check a sentence without losing your place.

The original English is B1 Intermediate. In translation, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish and Chinese are B1 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from A1 (beginner) to C2.

About 1,568 words in 9 chapters: around 5–15 min of reading, with the translation beside it. The time depends on the edition's level: an easier edition is read more slowly.

Yes. Read it online with no account. The downloads (PDF, EPUB, and AZW3 and MOBI for Kindle) need a free account.

Can I read it on a Kindle or Kobo?

Yes. Download the EPUB for Kobo, Apple Books and most e-readers, or the AZW3 or MOBI for a Kindle, with each paragraph followed by its translation. There is also a side-by-side PDF to print, and each language on its own.

Ancient Philosophers

Socrates of Athens

DuoText

He wrote nothing, owned almost nothing, and asked Athens the most dangerous question of all: how should a person live?

9 chapters · about 1,600 words · 5–15 min to read.

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How it begins

EnglishGreek

The Question in the Market

Η ερώτηση στην αγορά

Athens, about four hundred years before Christ. A city of white stone, of ships, of talk. People met in the market in the morning, and they talked about everything: war, money, the gods, the neighbours.

Αθήνα, περίπου τετρακόσια χρόνια πριν από τον Χριστό. Μια πόλη από λευκή πέτρα, από πλοία, από συζητήσεις. Οι άνθρωποι συναντιόνταν στην αγορά το πρωί και μιλούσαν για τα πάντα: για τον πόλεμο, τα χρήματα, τους θεούς, τους γείτονες.

One man was always there. He was short and stocky, with a flat nose, wide eyes and a thick beard. He wore the same thin cloak in summer and in winter, and he often went barefoot. His name was Socrates.

Ένας άνδρας ήταν πάντα εκεί. Ήταν κοντός και γεροδεμένος, με πλατιά μύτη, μεγάλα μάτια και πυκνή γενειάδα. Φορούσε τον ίδιο λεπτό μανδύα το καλοκαίρι και τον χειμώνα, και συχνά περπατούσε ξυπόλυτος. Το όνομά του ήταν Σωκράτης.

The opening paragraphs, as the reader shows them. Read on

Languages

Socrates of Athens · English (original)B1 Intermediate · 1,568 words · ~15 min
Sokrates von Athen · GermanB1 Intermediate · 1,546 words · ~15 min
Σωκράτης ο Αθηναίος · GreekB1 Intermediate · 1,543 words · ~15 min
Sócrates de Atenas · SpanishB1 Intermediate · 1,541 words · ~15 min
Socrate d’Athènes · FrenchB1 Intermediate · 1,759 words · ~15 min
एथेंस का सुकरात · HindiB1 Intermediate · 1,787 words · ~15 min
Sokrates dari Athena · IndonesianB1 Intermediate · 1,457 words · ~10 min
Socrate di Atene · ItalianB1 Intermediate · 1,580 words · ~15 min
アテネのソクラテス · JapaneseB1 Intermediate
아테네의 소크라테스 · KoreanB1 Intermediate · 1,141 words · ~10 min
Sócrates de Atenas · PortugueseB1 Intermediate · 1,601 words · ~15 min
Socrate din Atena · RomanianB1 Intermediate · 1,542 words · ~15 min
Atinalı Sokrates · TurkishB1 Intermediate · 1,159 words · ~10 min
雅典的苏格拉底 · ChineseB1 Intermediate

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Questions

Which languages can I read Socrates of Athens in?: English, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish and Chinese. Pick the language you want to read and the one to keep beside it: every paragraph sits next to its translation, so you can check a sentence without losing your place.
What level is it?: The original English is B1 Intermediate. In translation, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish and Chinese are B1 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from A1 (beginner) to C2.
How long is it?: About 1,568 words in 9 chapters: around 5–15 min of reading, with the translation beside it. The time depends on the edition's level: an easier edition is read more slowly.
Is it free?: Yes. Read it online with no account. The downloads (PDF, EPUB, and AZW3 and MOBI for Kindle) need a free account.
Can I read it on a Kindle or Kobo?: Yes. Download the EPUB for Kobo, Apple Books and most e-readers, or the AZW3 or MOBI for a Kindle, with each paragraph followed by its translation. There is also a side-by-side PDF to print, and each language on its own.