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
knowledge
One thing only I know, and that is that I know nothing.
knowledge ultimate
Knowledge is our ultimate good.
ignorance firsts acquiring-knowledge
Admitting one's ignorance is the first step in acquiring knowledge ...
knowledge knows
I know what I do not know.
knowledge thinking swans
You think that upon the score of fore-knowledge and divining I am infinitely inferior to the swans. When they perceive approaching death they sing more merrily than before, because of the joy they have in going to the God they serve.
knowledge knowing true-knowledge
True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing. And in knowing that you know nothing, that makes you the smartest of all.
knowing-nothing true-knowledge knows
To know, is to know that you know nothing.
real real-knowledge
Only the knowledge that comes from inside is the real Knowledge
knowing true-knowledge self-awareness
True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing.
reading wealth-of-knowledge perpetual
Prefer knowledge to wealth, for the one is transitory, the other perpetual.
appear experience honor human increase practice reality shortest strengthen surest themselves virtues
The shortest and surest way to live with honor in the world is to be in reality what we would appear to be; all human virtues increase and strengthen themselves by the practice and experience of them.
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