Socrates’ wife, Xanthippe, was notorious in Athens for her sharp tongue and quick temper. The sage once jokingly said, As I intended to associate with all kinds of people, I thought nothing they could do would disturb me, once I had accustomed myself to bear the disposition of Xanthippe.
It is only in Xenophon’s Symposium where we have Socrates agree that she is (in Antisthenes’ words) “the hardest to get along with of all the women there are” (2.10). Nevertheless, Socrates adds that he chose her precisely because of her argumentative spirit:
It is the example of the rider who wishes to become an expert horseman: “None of your soft-mouthed, docile animals for me,” he says; “the horse for me to own must show some spirit” in the belief, no doubt, if he can manage such an animal, it will be easy enough to deal with every other horse besides. And that is just my case. I wish to deal with human beings, to associate with man in general; hence my choice of wife. I know full well, if I can tolerate her spirit, I can with ease attach myself to every human being else. (Symposium 17-19 [= 2.10])
there you have it; socrates says crazy wife is good for you in making it out there in the world!
