Once there was a young man who came to ask Socrates how to learn philosophy. Socrates said nothing but took him along to a river. He suddenly pushed him into the river forcibly. At first the young man thought Socrates was kidding so he didn't take it to heart. But Socrates also jumped into the river and pulled his head into water desperately. At this time the young man was really scared, his instinct of living made him use all his strength lifting Socrates and climbed to the bank.

有一次，一个年轻人来找苏格拉底，想要学习哲学。苏格拉底一言不发，带着他走到一条河边，突然用力把他推进河里。年轻人起先以为苏格拉底在跟他开玩笑，并不在意。结果苏格拉底也跳到水里，并且拼命把他往水里按。这下子，年轻人真的慌了，求生的本能令他拼尽全力将苏格拉底掀开，爬到岸上。

The young man asked Socrates with puzzle why he did that, Socrates replied:
 "I just want to tell you whatever you do, do it with a determination to be unexpectedly rescued from a desperate situation. Only like that can you make a genuine achievement."

年轻人不解地问苏格拉底为什么要这样做，苏格拉底回答说：“我只想告诉你，做什么事都必须有绝处求生那么大的决心，才能获得真正的成就。”