Quotes by Socrates

About Socrates:

Socrates is an enigmatic figure known chiefly through the accounts of classical writers, especially the writings of his students Plato and Xenophon and the plays of his contemporary Aristophanes. Plato's dialogues are among the most comprehensive accounts of Socrates to survive from antiquity, though it is unclear the degree to which Socrates himself is "hidden behind his 'best disciple', Plato".
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.

Socrates

If the soul is immortal, it demands our care not only for that part of time which we call life, but for all time: and indeed it would seem now that it will be extremely dangerous to neglect it. If death were a release from everything, it would be a b...

Socrates

To find the Father of all is hard. And when found, it is impossible to utter Him.

Socrates

One should never do wrong in return, nor mistreat any man, no matter how one has been mistreated by him.

Socrates

Be slow to fall into friendship, but when you are in, continue firm and constant.

Socrates

God takes away the minds of poets, and uses them as his ministers, as he also uses diviners and holy prophets, in order that we who hear them may know them to be speaking not of themselves who utter these priceless words in a state of unconsciousness...

Socrates

God would seem to indicate to us and not allow us to doubt that these beautiful poems are not human, or the work of man, but divine and the work of God; and that the poets are only the interpreters of the Gods...

Socrates

One day, the old wise Socrates walks down the streets, when all of the sudden a man runs up to him "Socrates I have to tell you something about your friend who..." "Hold up" Socrates interrupts him "About the story you're about to tell me, did you pu...

Socrates

wealth does not bring goodness, but goodness brings wealth and every other blessing, both to the individual and to the state

Socrates

Strong minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, weak minds discuss people.

Socrates

Are you not ashamed of caring so much for the making of money and for fame and prestige, when you neither think nor care about wisdom and truth and the improvement of your soul?

Socrates

My advice to you is get married: if you find a good wife you'll be happy; if not, you'll become a philosopher.

Socrates

Regard your good name as the richest jewel you can possibly be possessed of -- for credit is like fire; when once you have kindled it you may easily preserve it, but if you once extinguish it, you will find it an arduous task to rekindle it again. Th...

Socrates

The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise.

Socrates

To find yourself, think for yourself.

Socrates

When you want wisdom and insight as badly as you want to breathe, it is then you shall have it.

Socrates

For the poet is a light and winged and holy thing, and there is no invention in him until he has been inspired and is out of his senses, and the mind is no longer in him: when he has not attained to this state, he is powerless and is unable to utter ...

Socrates

Be true to thine own self

Socrates

Two things greater than all the things are.On is love and the other is war.

Socrates

Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings so that you shall come easily by what others have labored hard for.

Socrates

The greatest blessing granted to mankind come by way of madness, which is a divine gift.

Socrates

Author Bio

  • NameSocrates
  • Descriptionclassical Greek Athenian philosopher, tutor of Plato
  • AliasesS?krát?s; Sokrates
  • Born470 BCE
  • Died399 BCE
  • CountryClassical Athens
  • ProfessionPhilosopher