Plato
Plato
Platowas a philosopher in Classical Greece and the founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. He is widely considered the most pivotal figure in the development of philosophy, especially the Western tradition. Unlike nearly all of his philosophical contemporaries, Plato's entire œuvre is believed to have survived intact for over 2,400 years...
NationalityGreek
ProfessionPhilosopher
truth men truth-is
Truth is the beginning of every good to the gods, and of every good to man.
plato thinking cities
The orators and the despots have the least power in their cities ... since they do nothing that they wish to do, practically speaking, though they do whatever they think to be best.
plato men self
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.
dance order dancing
In order to be a good soldier it is necessary to know how to dance.
dance men dancing
So the well educated man can learn to sing and dance well.
plato leader citizens
When the citizens of a society can see and hear their leaders, then that society should be seen as one.
justice suffering customs
Then not only custom, but also nature affirms that to do is more disgraceful than to suffer injustice, and that justice is equality.
plato all-things
God is not the author of all things, but of good only.
teacher men tree
Trees and fields tell me nothing: men are my teachers.
education use argument
I know too well that these arguments from probabilities are imposters, and unless great caution is observed in the use of them, they are apt to be deceptive.
work sleep soul
Much sleep is not required by nature, either for our souls or bodies, or for the action in which they are concerned.
moving time-management management
Time is the moving imago of the unmoving eternity.
words-of-wisdom connected
And is there anything more closely connected with wisdom than truth?
philosophy real twilight
What is at issue is the conversion of the mind from the twilight of error to the truth, that climb up into the real world which we shall call true philosophy.