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
sports children self
But at three, four, five, and even six years the childish nature will require sports; now is the time to get rid of self-will in him, punishing him, but not so as to disgrace him.
thinking soul excellence
It's like this, I think: the excellence of a good body doesn't make the soul good, but the other way around: the excellence of a good soul makes the body as good as it can be.
remember deluge
You can remember, a single deluge only, but there were many previous ones.
deities purpose miserable
The deity on purpose [sings] the liveliest of all lyrics through the most miserable poet.
real cities race
The human race will have no respite from evils until those who are really philosophers acquire political power or until, through some divine dispensation, those who rule and have political authority in the cities become real philosophers.
wise perfection humanity
If there is a good and wise God, then there also exists a progress of humanity toward perfection.
men issues justice
Great is the issue at stake, greater than appears, whether a man is to be good or bad. And what will any one be profited if, under the influence of money or power, he neglect justice and virtue?
spiritual perfect design
The ultimate design of the Mysteries ... was to lead us back to the principles from which we descended, ... a perfect enjoyment of intellectual [spiritual] good.
wise men useless-things
Nothing is more unworthy of a wise man, or ought to trouble him more, than to have allowed more time for trifling, and useless things, than they deserve.
anxiety affair humans
Nothing in human affairs is worth any great anxiety.
people language mathematics
Mathematics is the language in which the gods talk to people ...
bad-friend enemy good-enemy
Better a good enemy than a bad friend.
half wells
As the proverb says, "a good beginning is half the business" and "to have begun well" is praised by all.
sight air sea
We are too feeble and sluggish to make our way out to the upper limit of the air. If someone could reach the summit, or put on wings and fly aloft, when he put up his head he would see the world above, just as fishes see our world when they put up their heads out of the sea; and if his nature were able to bear the sight, he would recognize that that is the true heaven...