Last updated on March 8, 2024 by Roger Kaufman
Plato was a Greek philosopher who lived in the 5th and 4th centuries BC. lived and is one of the best-known representatives of ancient philosophy.
His works have up to today great influence on philosophy, science and culture.
His ideas about reality, human Nature and moral responsibility have shaped Western thinking.
In this article I have compiled the 40 best quotes from Plato that will help us Provoke thought and help us better understand his philosophy.
40 Best Thought-Provoking Quotes from Plato (Video)
Source: Best sayings and quotes
“We can do one Kindwho is afraid of the dark, easily forgiven; The real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.” – Plato
“Ignorance, the root and stem of all evil.” – Plato
"Courage means knowing what not to be afraid of.” – Plato
“Through the of Love everyone becomes a poet.” – Plato
“Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools speak because they have something to say.” – Plato
“The first and greatest victory is to overcome yourself.” – Plato
“He who does injustice is always more unhappy than he who suffers it.” – Plato
“We are doubly armed when we fight with faith.” – Plato
“Knowledge acquired under duress has no hold on the mind.” – Plato
The hardest thing in live is to get the heart and head to work together. In my case, they don’t even interact on a friendly basis.” – Plato
“The gravest punishment for refusing leadership is to be ruled by someone inferior to yourself.” – Plato
“One of the punishments for refusing to participate in politics is to be ruled by your subordinates.” – Plato
“Music is a moral law. She gives soul to the universe, wings to the thoughts, joy of imagination and charm of life and everything.” – Plato
“Human behavior comes from three main sources: , emotion and knowledge.” – Plato
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." – Plato
“The measure of a man is what he does with power.” – Plato
“Justice in the life and actions of the state is possible only when it is first present in the hearts and souls of the citizens.” – Plato
“Knowledge acquired under duress has no hold on the mind.” – Plato
“Ignorance, the root and stem of all evil.” – Plato
“No law or regulation is more powerful than understanding.” – Plato
“The gravest punishment for refusing leadership is to be ruled by someone inferior to yourself.” – Plato
“The beginning is the most important part of the work.” – Plato
“We are doubly armed when we fight with faith.” – Plato
“The most beautiful thing about the truth is that it belongs to no one. Everyone is entitled to search and find them.” – Plato
“The first and greatest victory is to overcome yourself.” – Plato
“There is only one thing that truly hurts: not living until you die.”– Plato
Courage means knowing what not to be afraid of.” – Plato
“The hardest thing about education is that you can’t educate someone if they’re not willing to learn, and you can’t teach them if they think they know everything.” – Plato
“Good people don’t need laws to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.” – Plato
“You can do more in an hour of playing find out about a person than in a year of conversation.” – Plato
“The price of apathy toward public affairs is being ruled by evil people.” – Plato
“Opinion is the medium between knowledge and ignorance.” – Plato
“Music is a moral law. She gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, joy to the imagination and charm to life and everything.” – Plato
“A good decision is based on knowledge and not on numbers.” – Plato
“Thinking – the soul speaking to itself.” – Plato
“The soul that has no fixed purpose in life is lost; To be everywhere is to be nowhere.” – Plato
“Better a little that is well done than a lot that is imperfect.” – Plato
"The Sages only talk about what they know.” – Plato
“He who possesses the good need not proclaim it loudly, for it speaks for itself.” – Plato
“The direction in which education takes a man will be future Determine life.” – Plato
FAQ about Plato
Who was Plato?
Plato was a Greek philosopher who lived in the 4th century BC. He was born in the XNUMXst century BC and is considered one of the most influential thinkers in Western philosophy. He was a student of Socrates and later founded his own school, the Academy, in Athens.
What are the most important works of Plato?
Plato wrote many philosophical dialogues, some of which are considered his most famous and influential works. These include “The Republic”, “The State”, “Symposium”, “Phaidon” and “Phaidros”.
What ideas are associated with Plato?
Plato developed many important ideas and concepts that have had a great influence on Western philosophy and thought. These include his theory of ideas, the idea of the good as the highest principle, the idea of the soul as immortal and the idea of an ideal social order.
What is the theory of Plato's ideas?
Plato believed that there is a world of ideas that exists beyond the physical world. These ideas are perfect and unchanging concepts that underlie the physical world and can be known by human reason.
What significance does the idea of good have for Plato?
For Plato, the idea of good is the highest principle and the source of all truth and knowledge. It is the principle that animates the world of ideas and gives the physical world its order and beauty.
What is Platonic Love?
Platonic love is a form of love described by Plato in his dialogue “Symposium”. It is a love that is not based on physical attraction but on a mental and spiritual connection between the lovers.
How did Plato see the social order?
Plato believed that the ideal social order should be an aristocratic government guided by wisdom and reason. He also believed in a hierarchy of souls based on various virtues that would form the basis for the distribution of power and authority in society.
What influence did Plato have on Western philosophy?
Plato is considered one of the most influential thinkers in the history of Western philosophy. His ideas and concepts influenced many later philosophers and thinkers, including Aristotle, Augustine, Descartes and Kant.
What else do I need to know about Plato?
There are many aspects that known about Plato and his philosophy are. Here are some more interesting facts:
- Plato was born in Athens and was a member of an aristocratic family.
- He studied under Socrates and was heavily influenced by his philosophy and way of thinking.
- Plato founded the Academy, which is considered the first institution of higher learning in Europe.
- Although Plato is known as a writer, he rarely wrote about himself. Therefore, it is difficult to identify his personal views and attitudes on certain topics.
- Plato was a political thinker and wrote several dialogues on the nature of government and the ideal social order.
- Plato believed in the immortality of the soul and wrote about it in his work “Phaidon”.
- His theory of ideas influenced many later philosophers, including the philosopher Plotinus, who lived in the 3rd century AD and founded Neoplatonism.
- Plato is known for his dialogue “The Republic,” in which he describes a vision of an ideal social order.
- Plato also wrote about aesthetics and presented the idea of beauty as a form of truth.
- Although Plato is often considered an idealistic philosopher, he also has about practical topics such as education, Ethics and Politics.
