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
character soul alphabet
The alphabet will create forgetfulness in the learners' souls. They will trust the written characters and not remember themselves.
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.
character
What most counts is not merely to live, but to live right.
honesty integrity character
It is never right to do wrong or to requite wrong with wrong, or when we suffer evil to defend ourselves by doing evil in return.
life memorial-day character
The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be.
education filling vessel
Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel
beginning definition wisdom
The beginning of wisdom is the definition of terms.
glory nearest strive wish
The nearest way to glory is to strive to be what you wish to be thought to be
becomes equal equality man superior woman
Woman once made equal to man becomes his superior
ashamed care caring fame improvement money neither nor truth wisdom
Are you not ashamed of caring so much for the making of money and for fame and prestige, when you neither think nor care about wisdom and truth and the improvement of your soul?
enjoy enjoyment later
Enjoy yourself -- it's later than you think.
artificial contentment luxury natural poverty
Contentment is natural wealth, luxury is artificial poverty
bear beautiful carry consider cute-love dear external friendly gods grant harmony man moderate oh pan sweet-love wise
Oh dear Pan and all the other Gods of this place, grant that I may be beautiful inside. Let all my external possessions be in friendly harmony with what is within. May I consider the wise man rich. As for gold, let me have as much as a moderate man could bear and carry with him.
greek-philosopher
As for me, all I know is that I know nothing.