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Political theory5 quotes
Democracy passes into despotism. — Socrates · 375 BCWhat I say is that "just" or "right" means nothing but what is to the interest of the stronger party. — Thrasymachus · 375 BCThe city in which those who are to rule are least eager to hold office must needs be the best governed and freest from strife. — Socrates · 375 BCUntil philosophers are kings, or the kings and princes of this world have the spirit and power of philosophy, and political greatness and wisdom meet in one, and those commoner natures who pursue either to the exclusion of the other are compelled to stand aside, cities will never have rest from their evils. — Socrates · 375 BCWhen the tyrant has disposed for foreign enemies by conquest or treaty, and there is nothing to fear from them, then he is always stirring up some war or other, in order that the people may require a leader. — Socrates · 375 BCPolitics5 quotes
Democracy passes into despotism. — Socrates · 375 BCDemocracy, which is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder, and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequals alike. — Socrates · 375 BCThe city in which those who are to rule are least eager to hold office must needs be the best governed and freest from strife. — Socrates · 375 BCUntil philosophers are kings, or the kings and princes of this world have the spirit and power of philosophy, and political greatness and wisdom meet in one, and those commoner natures who pursue either to the exclusion of the other are compelled to stand aside, cities will never have rest from their evils. — Socrates · 375 BCFor there is nothing that happens on earth that is more welcome to that supreme God who rules the whole universe than the institutions and congregations of men united by a sense of right, which are called states. — Cicero · 51 BCDemocracy2 quotes
Democracy passes into despotism. — Socrates · 375 BCDemocracy, which is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder, and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequals alike. — Socrates · 375 BCGovernment2 quotes
Until philosophers are kings, or the kings and princes of this world have the spirit and power of philosophy, and political greatness and wisdom meet in one, and those commoner natures who pursue either to the exclusion of the other are compelled to stand aside, cities will never have rest from their evils. — Socrates · 375 BCFor there is nothing that happens on earth that is more welcome to that supreme God who rules the whole universe than the institutions and congregations of men united by a sense of right, which are called states. — Cicero · 51 BCHow to live2 quotes
For our discussion is about no ordinary matter, but on the right way to conduct our lives. — Socrates · 375 BCMy child, you are still young, and time as it advances [888b] will cause you to reverse many of the opinions you now hold: so wait till then before pronouncing judgment on matters of most grave importance; and of these the gravest of all—though at present you regard it as naught—is the question of holding a right view about the gods and so living well, or the opposite. — Plato · 346 BCPurpose of life2 quotes
For our discussion is about no ordinary matter, but on the right way to conduct our lives. — Socrates · 375 BCFor what should a man live, if not for the pleasures of discourse? — Plato · 370 BCThe soul2 quotes
The soul of man is immortal and imperishable. — Socrates · 375 BCIt is perfectly certain that the soul is immortal and imperishable, and our souls will actually exist in another world. — Socrates · 347 BCTyranny2 quotes
Democracy passes into despotism. — Socrates · 375 BCThe people have always some champion whom they set over them and nurse into greatness. This and no other is the root from which a tyrant springs; when he first appears he is a protector. — Socrates · 375 BCTyrants2 quotes
In the early days of his power, he is full of smiles, and he salutes everyone whom he meets. — Socrates · 375 BCWhen the tyrant has disposed for foreign enemies by conquest or treaty, and there is nothing to fear from them, then he is always stirring up some war or other, in order that the people may require a leader. — Socrates · 375 BCAnimals1 quote
Will you not allow that I have as much of the spirit of prophecy in me as the swans? For they, when they perceive that they must die, having sung all their life long, do then sing more lustily than ever, rejoicing in the thought that they are going to the god they serve. — Socrates · 360 BCAstronomy1 quote
Astronomy compels the soul to look upwards and leads us from this world to another. — Socrates · 375 BCBelief in God1 quote
My child, you are still young, and time as it advances [888b] will cause you to reverse many of the opinions you now hold: so wait till then before pronouncing judgment on matters of most grave importance; and of these the gravest of all—though at present you regard it as naught—is the question of holding a right view about the gods and so living well, or the opposite. — Plato · 346 BCBirds1 quote
Will you not allow that I have as much of the spirit of prophecy in me as the swans? For they, when they perceive that they must die, having sung all their life long, do then sing more lustily than ever, rejoicing in the thought that they are going to the god they serve. — Socrates · 360 BCBoys1 quote
Of all wild creatures, the child is the most intractable. — Plato · 346 BCChildren1 quote
Of all wild creatures, the child is the most intractable. — Plato · 346 BCCities1 quote
The country places and the trees won't teach me anything, and the people in the city do. — Socrates · 370 BCConsequences of lying1 quote
False words are not only evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil. — Socrates · 360 BCCorrosive effects of wealth1 quote
Wealth is the parent of luxury and indolence, and poverty of meanness and viciousness, and both of discontent. — Socrates · 375 BCCourage1 quote
Who has knowledge of what is to be dreaded and what is not—the man whom I call courageous? — Nicias · 380 BCCourage vs. fear1 quote
Who has knowledge of what is to be dreaded and what is not—the man whom I call courageous? — Nicias · 380 BCCreativity1 quote
The true creator is necessity, who is the mother of our invention. — Socrates · 375 BCDecline of democracy1 quote
The people have always some champion whom they set over them and nurse into greatness. This and no other is the root from which a tyrant springs; when he first appears he is a protector. — Socrates · 375 BCDignity1 quote
Religion in its humility restores man to his only dignity, the courage to live by grace. — George Santayana · 1925Downsides of wealth1 quote
Wealth is the parent of luxury and indolence, and poverty of meanness and viciousness, and both of discontent. — Socrates · 375 BCEducation1 quote
Behold! human beings living in an underground den... Like ourselves... They see only their own shadows, or the shadows of one another, which the fire throws on the opposite wall of the cave. — Socrates · 375 BCEpistemology1 quote
Let us now suppose that in the mind of each man there is an aviary of all sorts of birds-some flocking together apart from the rest, others in small groups, others solitary, flying anywhere and everywhere... We may suppose that the birds are kinds of knowledge, and that when we were children, the receptacle was empty; whenever a man has gotten and detained in the enclosure a kind of knowledge, he may be said to have learned or discovered the thing which is the subject of the knowledge: and this is to know. — Socrates · 369 BCFacing death1 quote
Will you not allow that I have as much of the spirit of prophecy in me as the swans? For they, when they perceive that they must die, having sung all their life long, do then sing more lustily than ever, rejoicing in the thought that they are going to the god they serve. — Socrates · 360 BCGetting started1 quote
The beginning is the most important part of the work. — Socrates · 375 BCGood conversation1 quote
For what should a man live, if not for the pleasures of discourse? — Plato · 370 BCGrace1 quote
Religion in its humility restores man to his only dignity, the courage to live by grace. — George Santayana · 1925