Alcibiades is one of the most controversial figures of classical antiquity, due to his multifaceted personality. He possessed all the natural and primarily intellectual resources to take the reins of the Athenian democracy and glorify Athens.

His vision from a young age was the conquest of the Western world first and subsequently the Eastern under the hegemony of the Athenians. However, this vision would only be realized, at least in part, a century later by Alexander the Great.

Alcibiades had little guidance from teachers during the early and most critical years of his life. When Socrates approached Alcibiades, he was in his 20th year of age.

The formation of his character had already taken place, and signs of his boundless ambition, his remarkable insight, and the variability of his principles were present. From a very young age, Alcibiades revealed his genius temperament towards both directions, that of virtue and vice.

His immeasurable ambition was accompanied by sharpness and adaptability to all complex situations, into which his bold visions cast him. However, the lack of proper education and the leniency, which was displayed by his environment during the early years of his life when he captivated everyone with his charm, were clearly the cause of the lack of a stable orientation and primarily the lack of "know thyself".