For what else have we tosay, when wise men are forcibly dragged by the hands oftyrants, and their wisdom is taken captive by calumny, andthey are oppressed in their intelligence without defense? For what advantage did the Atheniansgain by their murder ofSocratesÉ. Or the people of Samosby the burning ofPythagorasÉ Or the Jews by thedeath of their wise king, because from thattime their kingdom was taken away? For with justice did Godmake recompense to the wisdom of these three: for the Athenians died of famine; andthe Samians were overwhelmed by thesea without remedy; and the Jews, desolate and driven fromtheir own kingdom, are scattered through everycountry. Socrates is not dead,because of Plato; neither Pythagoras,because of the statue of Juno; nor the wise King, because of the lawswhich he promulgated.
Mara barSerapion, Letter to His Son