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
practice skills excellence
Excellence" is not a gift, but a skill that takes practice. We do not act "rightly" because we are "excellent", in fact we achieve "excellence" by acting "rightly".
plato excellence littles
Better a little which is well done, than a great deal imperfectly.
excellence doe wealth
Wealth does not bring excellence, but that wealth comes from excellence.
death men excellence
Such, Echecrates, was the end of our comrade, who was, we may fairly say, of all those whom we knew in our time, the bravest and also the wisest and most upright man.
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.
sex excellence unions
If we are to keep our flock at the highest pitch of excellence, there should be as many unions of the best of both sexes, and as few of the inferior as possible, and that only the offspring of the better unions should be kept.
excellence excellent
Excellent things are rare.
leadership power seek worthy
Those who seek power are not worthy of that power.
carries exchange full luck range thou time
Time carries off all things; wouldst thou exchange - Name, looks, nature, luck? Just give time full range
adopted best character depends happiness leads living man manly plan wisdom
The man who makes everything that leads to happiness depends upon himself, and not upon other men, has adopted the very best plan for living happily. This is the man of moderation, the man of manly character and of wisdom.
clear compels draws
It is clear to everyone that astronomy at all events compels the soul to look upwards, and draws it from the things of this world to the other.
conquer conquered great shameful
The first and greatest victory is to conquer yourself; to be conquered by yourself is of all things most shameful and vile.
came inventions nor work
I never did anything worth doing by accident, nor did any of my inventions come by accident; they came by work.
best defeats gains greek-philosopher lowest man sustains worst
There's a victory, and defeat; the first and best of victories, the lowest and worst of defeats which each man gains or sustains at the hands not of another, but of himself.