Let me put it more precisely: The ability to give birth is a natural characteristic. In the same way, everybody can grasp philosophical truths if they just use their innate reason.

The rearing of children is considered too important to be left to the individual and should be the responsibility of the state.

Wisest is she who knows she does not know.

But understanding will always require some effort. You probably wouldn't admire a friend who was good at everything if it cost her no effort.

To prove religious faith by human reason is rationalistic claptrap.

(As human beings) We see everything everything in a glass, darkly. Sometimes we can peer through the glass and catch a glimpse of what is on the other side. If we were to polish the glass clean, we'd see much more. But then we would no longer see ourselves.

What Plato was really asking was perhaps why a horse was a horse, and not, for example, a cross between a horse and a pig.