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
lying eye beholder
Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.
ambition character reality
One trait in the philosopher's character we can assume is his love of the knowledge that reveals eternal reality, the realm unaffected by change and decay. He is in love with the whole of that reality, and will not willingly be deprived even of the most insignificant fragment of it - just like the lovers and men of ambition we described earlier on.
men giving every-man
It is right to give every man his due.
education real school
The only real ill-doing is the deprivation of knowledge.
plato laughter excess
A fit of laughter, which has been indulged to excess, almost always produces a violent reaction.
unseen unchanging cycles
The seen is the changing, the unseen is the unchanging.
philosophical greatest-victory shameful
To be conquered by yourself is of all things most shameful and vile.
philosophical giving gold
All the gold which is under or upon the earth is not enough to give in exchange for virtue.
bait sin pleasure
Pleasure is the bait of sin
spring helping-others helping
Happiness springs from doing good and helping others.
death night men
Either death is a state of nothingness and utter consciousness, or, as men say, there is a change and migration of the soul from this world to another. Now if death be of such a nature, I say that to die is to gain; for eternity is then only a single night.
confused twilight eye
When the mind's eye rests on objects illuminated by truth and reality, it understands and comprehends them, and functions intelligently; but when it turns to the twilight world of change and decay, it can only form opinions, its vision is confused and its beliefs shifting, and it seems to lack intelligence.
victory development-and-growth personal-growth
To conquer oneself is the best and noblest victory; to be vanquished by one's own nature is the worst and most ignoble defeat.
philosophy political should
...there are some who are naturally fitted for philosophy and political leadership, while the rest should follow their lead and let philosophy alone.