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 - no, nor the human race, as I believe - and then only will this our State have a possibility of life and behold the light of day.

Nothing more excellent or valuable than wine was every granted by the gods to man.

In order to seek one's own direction, one must simplify the mechanics of ordinary, everyday life.

A wise man speaks because he has something to say; a fool because he has to say something.

The eyes of the soul of the multitudes are unable to endure the vision of the divine.

They (the poets) are to us in a manner the fathers and authors of the wisdom.

Music is a more potent instrument than any other for education.