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.

Ignorance, the root and stem of all evil.

Ignorance, the root and stem of all evil.

A library of wisdom, is more precious than all wealth, and a

A library of wisdom, is more precious than all wealth, and all things that are desirable cannot be compared to it. Whoever therefore claims to be zealous of truth, of happiness, of wisdom or knowledge, must become a lover of books.

Wealth and poverty: the one is the parent of luxury and indo

Wealth and poverty: the one is the parent of luxury and indolence, and the other of meanness and viciousness, and both of discontent

He was a wise man who invented beer.

He was a wise man who invented beer.

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.

One of the penalties of refusing to participate in politics

One of the penalties of refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.

The life which is unexamined is not worth living.

The life which is unexamined is not worth living.

The true lover of learning then must his earliest youth, as

The true lover of learning then must his earliest youth, as far as in him lies, desire all truth. . .He whose desires are drawn toward knowledge in every form will be absorbed in the pleasures of the soul, and will hardly feel bodily pleasures- -I mean, if he be a true philosopher and not a sham one. . .Then how can he who has the magnificence of mind and is the spectator of all times and all existence, think much of human life He cannot. Or can such a one account death fearful No indeed.

To prefer evil to good is not in human nature; and when a ma

To prefer evil to good is not in human nature; and when a man is compelled to choose one of two evils, no one will choose the greater when he might have the less.

I shall assume that your silence gives consent

I shall assume that your silence gives consent

Must not all things at the last be swallowed up in death

Must not all things at the last be swallowed up in death

Justice in the life and conduct of the State is possible onl

Justice in the life and conduct of the State is possible only as first it resides in the hearts and souls of the citizens

I never did anything worth doing by accident, nor did any of

I never did anything worth doing by accident, nor did any of my inventions come by accident; they came by work.

The direction in which education starts a man will determine

The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future life.

There's a victory, and defeat; the first and best of victori

There's a victory, and defeat; the first and best of victories, the lowest and worst of defeats which each man gains or sustains at the hands not of another, but of himself.

When the tyrant has disposed of foreign enemies by conquest

When the tyrant has disposed of foreign enemies by conquest or treaty and there is nothing to fear from them then he is always stirring up some wary or other in order that the people may require a leader.

The madness of love is the greatest of heaven's blessings.

The madness of love is the greatest of heaven's blessings.

Pleasure is the bait of sin.

Pleasure is the bait of sin.

The rulers of the state are the only persons who ought to ha

The rulers of the state are the only persons who ought to have the privilege of lying, either at home or abroad; they may be allowed to lie for the good of the state.

When the tyrant has disposed of foreign enemies by conquest

When the tyrant has disposed of foreign enemies by conquest or treaty and there is nothing to fear from them, then he is always stirring up some war or other, in order that the people may require a leader.