The soul takes nothing with her to the other world but her education and culture; and these, it is said, are of the greatest service or of the greatest injury to the dead man, at the very beginning of his journey hither.

Man's greatest victory is over oneself.

Our object in the construction of the state is the greatest happiness of the whole, and not that of any one class.

A fit of laughter, which has been indulged to excess, almost always produces a violent reaction.

The true lover of knowledge naturally strives for truth, and is not content with common opinion, but soars with undimmed and unwearied passion till he grasps the essential nature of things.

We understand why children are afraid of darkness ... but why are men afraid of light?

I would have you imagine, then, that there exists in the mind of man a block of wax... and that we remember and know what is imprinted as long as the image lasts; but when the image is effaced, or cannot be taken, then we forget or do not know.