孔子与苏格拉底生平

Similarly, Confucius although he tried to become politically effective, served mainly as an advisor and educator of politicians. However, his efforts in this area did make Confucius more involved in government than Socrates’ incidental（偶然的，附带的） services as a citizen.
Confucius and Socrates --- Life and Deeds Both Confucius and Socrates lived in cultures where hereditary（世袭的） privilege was the main factor in social status. Neither of them was extremely high-born, but they certainly were not peasants either. Confucius as one of the many lower aristocrats（贵族）was just high enough where he would be considered as a possible official in the government, but not enough that he was automatically given a position. Due to his economic circumstances, he spent some time working with his hands and in business.
Both men were attracted to the human culture of city life, although Confucius did travel around, while Socrates did not. They both were most interested in relating with people. We know very little about the younger years of either of them, by middle age they each had attracted a group of students around them. Socrates claims he never accepted money; but either he must have accepted minimal gifts to live on or he had an independent income, because he spent all his days in conversation.
Not having been in the highest class probably was a major factor in preventing an active and powerful political life. Socrates intentionally stayed out of politics due to his spiritual guidance, but did become an advisor and teacher to some who did engage in political leadership.
Confucius accepted gifts and had a group of regular students, but there is no indication that he used his teaching to become wealthy. In fact both of them were open to discussing ideas with any one who bothered to come to them. Both of them appeared to be inexhaustible（不知疲倦的）in their efforts to pursue wisdom; there is no record of anyone outlasting them in this persistence.
Neither Confucius nor Socrates would do something they considered to be unjust even if they were being intimidated（恫吓，威胁） by threats. Their actions were strictly regulated by their rational or intuitive （直觉的） evaluation of what was right. Confucius died a natural death at seventy-two, while Socrates was martyred（殉难，折磨）at seventy, but both accepted death calmly.
Perhaps the key event in both their lives was when they realized their divine mission（天职）. Confucius said he was fifty when he knew the will of Heaven. Socrates does not say when the Delphic oracle（神谕， 圣言）made its famous pronouncement（声明） which stimulated his quest for a wise man, but it is likely that it was in his forties. In both cases, most of what we know about these two men occurred after this turning point in their lives.
Socrates was a citizen, but neither was he related to a ruling family. He probably worked as a stone-mason（泥瓦匠）; he fought in battle not as an officer, but as a citizen soldier. Both apparently received an education as they became very familiar with the literature and music of their cultures. It is doubtful they could have become the educators they did, if they had not been born in circumstances where they could be educated.
Neither one seemed to have an especially significant teacher, but they both related to an ideal pattern, sometimes exemplified by the ancients. Their admiration for the classical writings of their cultures and their extensive knowledge of them indicates deep and prolonged study. Confucius spent some time playing music, and Socrates set some fables to music while in prison due to guidance from a dream.
This sense of their mission and divineappointed destiny must have strengthened their purpose considerably. Because of this relationship with the divine or a higher power, neither of them seemed to have any fear of death or anything else.