The early life of Socrates was miserable. His father was a poor man who worked as a helper to the sculptors. As a boy Socrates was undersized and ugly. He grew up in a small house as the son of a very poor man. He was a strange creature with a thoughtful mind. At school he learnt some music and gymnastics. Also he learnt some science and mathematics. But above all he was a thoughtful boy who noticed everything with interest. He watched his companions with the closest attention. The poverty in his boyhood years and his thoughtful nature developed in him a deep dislike for wealth. His aim was to realise the higher things in life. He never cared for bodily comfort.