. . . the triumph of my art is in thoroughly examining whether the thought which the mind of the young man brings forth is a false idol or a noble and true birth.

. . . Then anyone who leaves behind him a written manual, and likewise anyone who receives it, in the belief that such writing will be clear and certain, must be exceedingly simple-minded. . . .

And is there anything more closely connected with wisdom than truth?

There should exist among the citizens neither extreme poverty nor again excessive wealth, for both are productive of great evil.

Love is simply the name for the desire and pursuit of the whole.

What a poor appearance the tales of poets make when stripped of the colours which music puts upon them, and recited in simple prose.

Music is that which takes silence and brings it to life.