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Plato Quotes

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Plato Quotes

“If the study of all these sciences which we have enumerated, should ever bring us to their mutual association and relationship, and teach us the nature of the ties which bind them together, I believe that the diligent treatment of them will forward the objects which we have in view, and that the labor, which otherwise would be fruitless, will be well bestowed.”

IfsShouldBelieveWellsWould BeTogetherI BelieveViewsTeachStudyObjectsLaborTiesTreatmentMutualAssociationPlatoDiligent
Book:The Republic of Plato, Translated Into English, with an Introduction, Analysis, and Notes. By J. Ll. Davies and D. J. Vaughan
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“In particular I may mention Sophocles the poet, who was once asked in my presence, How do you feel about love, Sophocles? are you still capable of it? to which he replied, Hush! if you please: to my great delight I have escaped from it, and feel as if I had escaped from a frantic and savage master. I thought then, as I do now, that he spoke wisely. For unquestionably old age brings us profound repose and freedom from this and other passions.”

IfsLoveFeelsMayStillsAgePassionParticularPoetMastersPleaseCapableProfoundDelightOld AgeSpokesSavagesPlatoReposeHushFrantic
Book:The Republic of Plato, Translated Into English, with an Introduction, Analysis, and Notes. By J. Ll. Davies and D. J. Vaughan
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“To the rulers of the state then, if to any, it belongs of right to use falsehood, to deceive either enemies or their own citizens, for the good of the state: and no one else may meddle with this privilege.”

IfsMayStatesUseLyingEnemyCitizensPrivilegeRulersFalsehoodDeceivingPlato
Book:The Republic of Plato, tr. with an analysis and notes, by J.L. Davies and D.J. Vaughan
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“That makes me think, my friend, as I have often done before, how natural it is that those who have spent a long time in the study of philosophy appear ridiculous when they enter the courts of law as speakers. Those who have knocked about in courts and the like from their youth up seem to me, when compared with those who have been brought up in philosophy and similar pursuits, to be as slaves in breeding compared with freemen.”

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Book:Theaetetus, Sophist
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“Science is nothing but perception.”

ScienceTechnologyPerceptionPhilosophicalPlato
Book:Wit and Wisdom of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle: Being a Treasury of Thousands of Glorious, Inspiring and Imperishable Thoughts, Views and Observations of the Three Great Greek Philosophers, Classified Under about Four Hundred Subjects for Comparative Study
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“Whenever a person strives, by the help of dialectic, to start in pursuit of every reality by a simple process of reason, independent of all sensuous information - never flinching, until by an act of the pure intelligence he has grasped the real nature of good - he arrives at the very end of the intellectual world.”

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Book:Republic
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“Is it not also true that no physician, in so far as he is a physician, considers or enjoins what is for the physician's interest, but that all seek the good of their patients? For we have agreed that a physician strictly so called, is a ruler of bodies, and not a maker of money, have we not?”

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Book:The Republic of Plato, tr. with an analysis and notes, by J.L. Davies and D.J. Vaughan
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“Until philosophers are kings, or the kings and princes of this world have the spirit and power of philosophy, and political greatness and wisdom meet in one, and those commoner natures who pursue either to the exclusion of the other are compelled to stand aside, cities will never have rest from their evils - no, nor the human race, as I believe - and then only will this our State have a possibility of life and behold the light of day.”

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Book:The Republic
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“Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity - I mean the true simplicity of a rightly and nobly ordered mind and character, not that other simplicity which is only a euphemism for folly.”

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Book:The Republic: A Socratic Dialogue Concerning the Definition of Justice and the Order and Character of the Just City-State and the Just Man (Beloved Books Edition)
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“And all knowledge, when separated from justice and virtue, is seen to be cunning and not wisdom; wherefore make this your first and last and constant and all-absorbing aim, to exceed, if possible, not only us but all your ancestors in virtue; and know that to excel you in virtue only brings us shame, but that to be excelled by you is a source of happiness to us.”

IfsKnowsFirstsLastsJusticeVirtueSourceShameAimConstantAncestorPlatoCunningExceedAbsorbingFirsts And LastsSource Of Happiness
Book:The Complete Plato
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“And we must beg Homer and the other poets not to be angry if we strike out these and similar passages, not because they are unpoetical, or unattractive to the popular ear, but because the greater the poetical charm in them, the less are they meet for the ears of boys and men who are meant to be free, and who should fear slavery more than death.”

IfsMenShouldBoysGreaterPoetEarsSlaveryAngryStrikesCharmMeant To BePassagesPlatoUnattractive
Book:The Republic
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“And we shall most likely be defeated, and you will most likely be victors in the contest, if you learn so to order your lives as not to abuse or waste the reputation of your ancestors, knowing that to a man who has any self-respect, nothing is more dishonourable than to be honoured, not for his own sake, but on account of the reputation of his ancestors.”

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Book:The Complete Plato
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“For neither does wealth bring honour to the owner, if he be a coward; of such a one the wealth belongs to another, and not to himself. Nor does beauty and strength of body, when dwelling in a base and cowardly man, appear comely, but the reverse of comely, making the possessor more conspicuous, and manifesting forth his cowardice.”

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Book:The Complete Plato
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“All men are by nature equal, made all of the same earth by one Workman; and however we deceive ourselves, as dear unto God is the poor peasant as the mighty prince.”

MenMadeEarthPoorPovertyEqualDearDeceivingPlatoPeasantsDear GodWorkmenEquality Of ManDeceived Us
Book:Wit and Wisdom of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle: Being a Treasury of Thousands of Glorious, Inspiring and Imperishable Thoughts, Views and Observations of the Three Great Greek Philosophers, Classified Under about Four Hundred Subjects for Comparative Study
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