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
kings philosophy men
Until philosophers rule as kings or those who are now called kings and leading men genuinely and adequately philosophise, that is, until political power and philosophy entirely coincide, while the many natures who at present pursue either one exclusively are forcibly prevented from doing so, cities will have no rest from evils,... nor, I think, will the human race.
blessed new-beginnings heaven
Truth is the beginning of every good thing, both in heaven and on earth; and he who would be blessed and happy should be from the first a partaker of truth, for then he can be trusted.
plato men dwelling
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.
education real school
The only real ill-doing is the deprivation of knowledge.
plato rewards truth-is
Truth is its own reward.
fighting battle be-kind
Be kind. Every person you meet is fighting a difficult battle.
bait sin pleasure
Pleasure is the bait of sin
education teaching men
If a man neglects education, he walks lame to the end of his life.
plato health attention
Attention to health is life greatest hindrance.
courage knowing
Courage is knowing what to fear.
plato evil aim
Knowledge becomes evil if the aim be not virtuous.
beauty beautiful eye
When a beautiful soul harmonizes with a beautiful form, and the two are cast in one mould, that will be the fairest of sights to him who has the eye to contemplate the vision.
kings plato philosophy
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.
unseen unchanging cycles
The seen is the changing, the unseen is the unchanging.