Plato Quotes

A collection of quotes by Plato.

Plato was an influential ancient Greek philosopher, mathematician, and writer, born around 428 BCE in Athens, Greece. He was a student of Socrates and the teacher of Aristotle, making him a key figure in the development of Western philosophy.

Plato's early philosophical pursuits were greatly influenced by his mentor, Socrates. However, following Socrates' execution in 399 BCE, Plato grew disillusioned with Athenian democracy and turned his attention to exploring and establishing his own philosophical ideas.

He founded the Academy in Athens, a renowned institution where he continued to teach his students and conduct philosophical investigations. The Academy fostered intellectual and scholarly pursuits for several centuries, and Plato's teachings had a lasting impact on Greek education and philosophy.

Plato's philosophy covered various areas, including metaphysics, ethics, politics, and epistemology. He believed that true knowledge could only be attained through reasoning rather than relying on sense perception. Plato's most famous work, "The Republic," expounds on his theories about ideal governance, justice, and the nature of reality.

Plato's writings consist of dialogues, often featuring Socrates as the protagonist, where philosophical ideas are discussed and debated. Some of his other notable works include "Phaedrus," "Symposium," and "Apology."

Due to his monumental contributions to philosophy and his unique approach to examining fundamental questions, Plato remains one of the most influential figures in Western intellectual history.