One of the themes which runs throughout Plato's dialogues, as well as all major world religions and philosophies, is the theme of the high road vs. the low road.  In Book 10 of the Republic, Socrates tells Glaucon:

"We should always keep to the upward path, and we should use every means at our diaposal to act morally and with intelligence, so that we may gain our own and the gods' approval" (621c5ff).

These are pictures of climbing the high road.  This one is of Hydra (I climbed up the hill to the monastery while the students were swimming):

The following photos are from Crete.  I took one 10-mile hike through Samaria Gorge.  The bus dropped us off at the top and we climbed down, so it was "the hard, downward road."

This is the road up to Mount Likavittos.  Emily Brady is on it:

This is Delphi. Remember that climb?

This was Meteora, one of the places I went:

I hope all of my students will remember the image of the "hard, high road" and choose it throughout their lives.