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，一個年輕人來找蘇格拉底，想要學習哲學。蘇格拉底一言不發，帶著他走到一條河邊，突然用力把他推進河里。年輕人起先以為蘇格拉底在跟他開玩笑，并不在意。結果蘇格拉底也跳到水里，并且拼命把他往水里按。這下子，年輕人真的慌了，求生的本能令他拼盡全力將蘇格拉底掀開，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."

年輕人不解地問蘇格拉底為什么要這樣做，蘇格拉底回答說：“我只想告訴你，做什么事都必須有絕處求生那么大的決心，才能獲得真正的成就。”