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
past thinking track
Nothing very new. By taking good care of yourselves you are of service to me and my family as well as yourselves, no matter what you do, even if you don't think so at present. But if you neglect yourselves and are unwilling to live, as though following tracks, in accordance with what we now say and have said in the past too, then no matter how much or how seriously you agree with me at present you will accomplish next to nothing.
motivational track littles
Better to do a little well, then a great deal badly.
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
good men virtue
Virtue does not come from wealth, but. . . wealth, and every other good thing which men have. . . comes from virtue.
beauty inward man outward
Give me beauty in the inward soul; may the outward and the inward man be at one.
bare compliments giving sensible
Get not your friends by bare compliments, but by giving them sensible tokens of your love.
knowledge
One thing only I know, and that is that I know nothing.
eyes given hear listening nature
Nature has given us two ears, two eyes, and but one tongue-to the end that we should hear and see more than we speak.
evil good
There is only one good -- knowledge; and only one evil -- ignorance.
evil ignorance
There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance
becomes equal equality man superior woman
Woman once made equal to man becomes his superior