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Plato

Philosopher

Plato was a foundational philosopher whose ideas have shaped Western thought for over two millennia. His teachings explore truth, justice, knowledge, and the nature of the human soul, offering guidance on both personal and societal growth. The following quotes capture Plato’s enduring wisdom and his profound reflections on life, virtue, and the pursuit of understanding.

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For this feeling of wonder shows that you are a philosopher, since wonder is the only beginning of philosophy.
From Theaetetus
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Topic: Philosophical
Knowledge becomes evil if the aim be not virtuous.
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Topic: Philosophical
Do not train a child to learn by force or harshness; but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each.
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Topic: Education, Philosophical
The greatest wealth is to live content with little.
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Topic: Philosophical
How could they see anything but the shadows if they were never allowed to move their heads?
From The Allegory of the Cave
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Topic: Philosophical
In practice people who study philosophy too long become very odd birds, not to say thoroughly vicious; while even those who are the best of them are reduced by...[philosophy] to complete uselessness as members of society.
From Republic
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Topic: Philosophical
Socrates: This man, on one hand, believes that he knows something, while not knowing [anything]. On the other hand, I – equally ignorant – do not believe [that I know anything].
From Apology
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Topic: Philosophical
Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something.
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Topic: Philosophical
We are twice armed if we fight with faith.
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Topic: Philosophical
Education is teaching our children to desire the right things.
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Topic: Inspirational
One of the penalties of refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.
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Topic: Philosophical
Philosophy is the highest music.
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Topic: Philosophical
The philosopher whose dealings are with divine order himself acquires the characteristics of order and divinity.
From The Republic
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Topic: Philosophical
....I am inclined to think that these muscles and bones of mine would have gone off long ago to Megara or Boeotia—by the dog they would, if they had been moved only by their own idea of what was best.

(tr Jowett)
From Phaedo
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Topic: Philosophical
The man who makes everything that leads to happiness depends upon himself, and not upon other men, has adopted the very best plan for living happily. This is the man of moderation, the man of manly character and of wisdom.
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Topic: Happiness
That's what education should be," I said, "the art of orientation. Educators should devise the simplest and most effective methods of turning minds around. It shouldn't be the art of implanting sight in the organ, but should proceed on the understanding that the organ already has the capacity, but is improperly aligned and isn't facing the right way.
From The Republic
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Topic: Education
Love is a serious mental disease.
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Topic: Philosophical
The soul of him who has education is whole and perfect and escapes the worst disease, but, if a man's education be neglected, he walks lamely through life and returns good for nothing to the world below.
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Topic: Education
Ideas are the source of all things
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Topic: Philosophical
Piety, then, is that which is dear to the gods, and impiety is that which is not dear to them.
From Euthyphro. Apology. Crito. Phaedo. Phaedrus.
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Topic: Philosophical
Man - a being in search of meaning.
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Topic: Philosophical
Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow.
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Topic: Philosophical
The first and best victory is to conquer self
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Topic: Inspirational
He was a wise man who invented God.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Religion
For this feeling of wonder shows that you are a philosopher, since wonder is the only beginning of philosophy.
From Theaetetus
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
Knowledge becomes evil if the aim be not virtuous.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
Do not train a child to learn by force or harshness; but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Education, Philosophical
The greatest wealth is to live content with little.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
How could they see anything but the shadows if they were never allowed to move their heads?
From The Allegory of the Cave
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
In practice people who study philosophy too long become very odd birds, not to say thoroughly vicious; while even those who are the best of them are reduced by...[philosophy] to complete uselessness as members of society.
From Republic
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
Socrates: This man, on one hand, believes that he knows something, while not knowing [anything]. On the other hand, I – equally ignorant – do not believe [that I know anything].
From Apology
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
We are twice armed if we fight with faith.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
Education is teaching our children to desire the right things.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Inspirational
One of the penalties of refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
Philosophy is the highest music.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
The philosopher whose dealings are with divine order himself acquires the characteristics of order and divinity.
From The Republic
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
....I am inclined to think that these muscles and bones of mine would have gone off long ago to Megara or Boeotia—by the dog they would, if they had been moved only by their own idea of what was best.

(tr Jowett)
From Phaedo
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
The man who makes everything that leads to happiness depends upon himself, and not upon other men, has adopted the very best plan for living happily. This is the man of moderation, the man of manly character and of wisdom.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Happiness
That's what education should be," I said, "the art of orientation. Educators should devise the simplest and most effective methods of turning minds around. It shouldn't be the art of implanting sight in the organ, but should proceed on the understanding that the organ already has the capacity, but is improperly aligned and isn't facing the right way.
From The Republic
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Education
Love is a serious mental disease.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
The soul of him who has education is whole and perfect and escapes the worst disease, but, if a man's education be neglected, he walks lamely through life and returns good for nothing to the world below.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Education
Ideas are the source of all things
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
Piety, then, is that which is dear to the gods, and impiety is that which is not dear to them.
From Euthyphro. Apology. Crito. Phaedo. Phaedrus.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
Man - a being in search of meaning.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
The first and best victory is to conquer self
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Inspirational
He was a wise man who invented God.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Religion
For this feeling of wonder shows that you are a philosopher, since wonder is the only beginning of philosophy.
From Theaetetus
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
Knowledge becomes evil if the aim be not virtuous.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
Do not train a child to learn by force or harshness; but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Education, Philosophical
The greatest wealth is to live content with little.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
How could they see anything but the shadows if they were never allowed to move their heads?
From The Allegory of the Cave
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
In practice people who study philosophy too long become very odd birds, not to say thoroughly vicious; while even those who are the best of them are reduced by...[philosophy] to complete uselessness as members of society.
From Republic
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
Socrates: This man, on one hand, believes that he knows something, while not knowing [anything]. On the other hand, I – equally ignorant – do not believe [that I know anything].
From Apology
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
We are twice armed if we fight with faith.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
Education is teaching our children to desire the right things.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Inspirational
One of the penalties of refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
Philosophy is the highest music.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
The philosopher whose dealings are with divine order himself acquires the characteristics of order and divinity.
From The Republic
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
....I am inclined to think that these muscles and bones of mine would have gone off long ago to Megara or Boeotia—by the dog they would, if they had been moved only by their own idea of what was best.

(tr Jowett)
From Phaedo
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
The man who makes everything that leads to happiness depends upon himself, and not upon other men, has adopted the very best plan for living happily. This is the man of moderation, the man of manly character and of wisdom.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Happiness
That's what education should be," I said, "the art of orientation. Educators should devise the simplest and most effective methods of turning minds around. It shouldn't be the art of implanting sight in the organ, but should proceed on the understanding that the organ already has the capacity, but is improperly aligned and isn't facing the right way.
From The Republic
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Education
Love is a serious mental disease.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
The soul of him who has education is whole and perfect and escapes the worst disease, but, if a man's education be neglected, he walks lamely through life and returns good for nothing to the world below.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Education
Ideas are the source of all things
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
Piety, then, is that which is dear to the gods, and impiety is that which is not dear to them.
From Euthyphro. Apology. Crito. Phaedo. Phaedrus.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
Man - a being in search of meaning.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
The first and best victory is to conquer self
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Inspirational
He was a wise man who invented God.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Religion
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