Those who refuse to engage in politics will be led by their inferiors

When a person meets the half that is his very own, whatever his orientation, whether it's to young men or not, then something wonderful happens: the two are struck from their senses by love, by a sense of belonging to one another, and by desire, and they don't want to be separated from one another, not even for a moment.

The principles are important. First, the interest of the state or society counts for everything, that of the individual for nothing. Second, the only difference between men and women is one of physical function- one begets, the other bears children. Apart from that, they both can and should perform the same functions - though men on a whole, perform them better and should receive the same education to enable them to do so; for in this way society will get the best value from both.

What is at issue is the conversion of the mind from the twilight of error to the truth, that climb up into the real world which we shall call true philosophy.

Those who practice philosophy in the right way are in training for dying and they fear death least of all men.

He who is learning and learning and doesn't apply what he knows is like the one who is plowing and plowing and doesn't seed.

So their combinations with themselves and with each other give rise to endless complexities, which anyone who is to give a likely account of reality must survey.