Socrates
Socrates
Socrates was a classical Greekphilosopher credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy. He is an enigmatic figure known chiefly through the accounts of classical writers, especially the writings of his students Plato and Xenophon and the plays of his contemporary Aristophanes. Plato's dialogues are among the most comprehensive accounts of Socrates to survive from antiquity, though it is unclear the degree to which Socrates himself is "hidden behind his 'best disciple', Plato"...
NationalityGreek
ProfessionPhilosopher
wise apology conscious
I am very conscious that I am not wise at all.
magnificence defeat oneself
There is no greater magnificence than to defeat oneself. That is the magnificence...
men immortality creation
Creation is man's immortality and brings him nearest to the gods.
ignorance true-wisdom recognizing
The true Wisdom is in recognizing our own ignorance.
knows
As for me, all I know is I know nothing.
hands needs tasks
The hardest task needs the lightest hand or else its completion will not lead to freedom but to a tyranny much worse than the one it replaces.
apology young ifs
Either I do not corrupt the young or, if I do, it is unwillingly.
soul mind study
A free soul ought not to pursue any study slavishly, for nothing that is learned under compulsion stays with the mind.
has-beens
It has been shown that to injure anyone is never just anywhere.
phrases use helping
To use words and phrases in an easygoing manner without scrutinizing them too curiously is not in general a mark of ill-breeding. On the contrary, there is something low-bred in being too precise. But sometimes there is no help for it
hate men he-man
Fear of women love more than hate the man.
memories writing character
The invention of writing will produce forgetfulness in the minds of those who learn to use it, because they will not practice their memory. Their trust in writing, produced by external characters which are no part of themselves, will discourage the use of their own memory within them. You have invented an elixir not of memory, but of reminding; and you offer your pupils the appearance of wisdom, not true wisdom.
men should-have honorable-man
Do you suppose that I should have lived as long as I have if I had moved in the sphere of public life, and conducting myself in that sphere like an honorable man, had always upheld the cause of right, and conscientiously set this end above all other things? Not by a very long way, gentlemen; neither would any other man.
men delight opinion
If thou continuous to take delight in idle argumentation thou mayest be qualified to combat with the sophists, but will never know how to live with men.