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
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.
thinking deception noble
To think truly is noble and to be deceived is base.
block taken men
I would have you imagine, then, that there exists in the mind of man a block of wax... and that we remember and know what is imprinted as long as the image lasts; but when the image is effaced, or cannot be taken, then we forget or do not know.
feet errors shoes
Putting the shoe on the wrong foot.
victory runners prize
The true runner comes to the finish and receives the prize and is crowned.
men good-man answers
If you ask: What is the good of education? The answer is easy: Education makes good men and good men act nobly.