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100 Enlightening Quotes By Plato That Give A Glimpse Into His Great Mind

Famous As: Greek Philosopher and Founder of Platonist School
Born On: 428
Died On: 348 AD
Born In: Classical Athens, Greece
Died At Age: -81

One of the towering figures of ancient Greek philosophy, Plato was the founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. A student of the great philosopher Socrates, Plato was also the teacher of another influential figure, Aristotle. These three philosophers are jointly credited to have laid the very foundations of Western philosophy and science. Plato was not just highly influential in the fields of Western science, philosophy, and mathematics, but is also said to have been one of the founders of Western religion and spirituality. In addition, he is also credited to have been the founder of Western political philosophy and one of the most influential authors in the history of philosophy. What would be a better way to imbibe some of his vast wisdom than by leisurely reading through his words of wisdom that we bring to you in form of quotes?

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

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

Plato
Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back. Those who wish to sing always find a song. At the touch of a lover, everyone becomes a poet.

Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back. Those who wish to sing always find a song. At the touch of a lover, everyone becomes a poet.

Plato
Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something.

Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something.

Plato
We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.

We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.

Plato
Only the dead have seen the end of war.

Only the dead have seen the end of war.

Plato
The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.

The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.

Plato
Do not train a child to learn by force or harshness; but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each.

Do not train a child to learn by force or harshness; but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each.

Plato
The heaviest penalty for declining to rule is to be ruled by someone inferior to yourself.

The heaviest penalty for declining to rule is to be ruled by someone inferior to yourself.

Plato
Love is a serious mental disease.

Love is a serious mental disease.

Plato
Never discourage anyone...who continually makes progress, no matter how slow.

Never discourage anyone...who continually makes progress, no matter how slow.

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

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

Plato
I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing.

I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing.

Plato
Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws

Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws

Plato
Ignorance, the root and stem of every evil.

Ignorance, the root and stem of every evil.

Plato
There is truth in wine and children

There is truth in wine and children

Plato
I'm trying to think, don't confuse me with facts.

I'm trying to think, don't confuse me with facts.

Plato
If women are expected to do the same work as men, we must teach them the same things.

If women are expected to do the same work as men, we must teach them the same things.

Plato
The measure of a man is what he does with power.

The measure of a man is what he does with power.

Plato
Those who tell the stories rule society.

Those who tell the stories rule society.

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

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

Plato
Human behavior flows from three main sources: desire, emotion, and knowledge.

Human behavior flows from three main sources: desire, emotion, and knowledge.

Plato
There are three classes of men; lovers of wisdom, lovers of honor, and lovers of gain.

There are three classes of men; lovers of wisdom, lovers of honor, and lovers of gain.

Plato
Education is teaching our children to desire the right things.

Education is teaching our children to desire the right things.

Plato
When men speak ill of thee, live so as nobody may believe them.

When men speak ill of thee, live so as nobody may believe them.

Plato
There are two things a person should never be angry at, what they can help, and what they cannot.

There are two things a person should never be angry at, what they can help, and what they cannot.

Plato
Courage is knowing what not to fear.

Courage is knowing what not to fear.

Plato
In politics we presume that everyone who knows how to get votes knows how to administer a city or a state. When we are ill... we do not ask for the handsomest physician, or the most eloquent one.

In politics we presume that everyone who knows how to get votes knows how to administer a city or a state. When we are ill... we do not ask for the handsomest physician, or the most eloquent one.

Plato
How can you prove whether at this moment we are sleeping, and all our thoughts are a dream; or whether we are awake, and talking to one another in the waking state?

How can you prove whether at this moment we are sleeping, and all our thoughts are a dream; or whether we are awake, and talking to one another in the waking state?

Plato
You should not honor men more than truth.

You should not honor men more than truth.

Plato
The beginning is the most important part of the work.

The beginning is the most important part of the work.

Plato