Quotes by Plato

About Plato:

Plato is widely considered the most pivotal figure in the development of philosophy, especially the Western tradition. Unlike nearly all of his philosophical contemporaries, Plato's entire oeuvre is believed to have survived intact for over 2500 years, and he is arguably one of the greatest, if not the greatest, writer in the entire Western canon.
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No matter how hard you fight the darkness, every light casts a shadow, and the closer you get to the light, the darker that shadow becomes.

Plato

As it is, the lover of inquiry must follow his beloved wherever it may lead him.

Plato

If it were necessary either to do wrong or to suffer it, I should choose to suffer rather than do it.

Plato

He who is of calm and happy nature will hardly feel the pressure of age, but to him who is of an opposite disposition youth and age are equally a burden.

Plato

Wisdom alone is the science of other sciences.

Plato

There are two things a person should never be angry at, what they can help, and what they cannot.

Plato

The beginning is the most important part of the work.

Plato

Rhetoric is the art of ruling the minds of men.

Plato

It is the task of the enlightened not only to ascend to learning and to see the good but to be willing to descend again to those prisoners and to share their troubles and their honors, whether they are worth having or not. And this they must do, even...

Plato

How could they see anything but the shadows if they were never allowed to move their heads?

Plato

For to fear death, my friends, is only to think ourselves wise without really being wise, for it is to think that we know what we do not know. For no one knows whether death may not be the greatest good that can happen to man.

Plato

The State is like a great and noble steed who is tardy in his motions owing to his very size, and requires to be stirred into life. I am that gadfly which God has given the State and all day long and in all places am always fastening upon you, arousi...

Plato

virtue does not spring from riches, but riches and all other human blessings, both private and public, from virtue.

Plato

this is the greatest good to man, to discourse daily on virtue, and other things which you have heard me discussing, examining both myself and others,

Plato

But this is not difficult, O Athenians! to escape death; but it is much more difficult to avoid depravity, for it runs swifter than death. And now I, being slow and aged, am overtaken by the slower of the two; but my accusers, being strong and active...

Plato

a life without investigation is not worth living

Plato

I thought to myself: I am wiser than this man; neither of us probably knows anything that is really good, but he thinks he has knowledge, when he has not, while I, having no knowledge, do not think I have.

Plato

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].

Plato

For I am certain, O men of Athens, that if I had engaged in politics, I should have perished long ago and done no good either to you or to myself.

Plato

Many are the noble words in which poets speak concerning the actions of men; but like yourself when speaking about Homer, they do not speak of them by any rules of art: they are simply inspired to utter that to which the Muse impels them, and that on...

Plato

Author Bio

  • NamePlato
  • DescriptionClassical Greek philosopher
  • AliasesPlaton
  • Born427 BCE
  • Died347 BCE
  • CountryClassical Athens
  • ProfessionPhilosopher