The human race will have no respite from evils until those who are really philosophers acquire political power or until, through some divine dispensation, those who rule and have political authority in the cities become real philosophers.

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

The soul should concentrate itself by itself.

Any one who has common sense will remember that the bewilderments of the eyes are of two kinds, and arise from two causes, either from coming out of the light or from going into the light, which is true of the mind's eye, quite as much as of the bodily eye; and he who remembers this when he sees any one whose vision is perplexed and weak, will not be too ready to laugh; he will first ask whether that soul of man has come out of the brighter light, and is unable to see because unaccustomed to the dark, or having turned from darkness to the day is dazzled by excess of light.

So the nature required to make a really noble Guardian of our commonwealth will be swift and strong, spirited, and philosophic.

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

Of all the animals, the boy is the most unmanageable, inasmuch as he has the fountain of reason in him not yet regulated.