The souls of people, on their way to Earth-life, pass through a room full of lights; each takes a taper - often only a spark - to guide it in the dim country of this world. But some souls, by rare fortune, are detained longer - have time to grasp a handful of tapers, which they weave into a torch. These are the torch-bearers of humanity - its poets, seers and saints, who lead and lift the race out of darkness, toward the light. They are the law-givers and saviors, the light-bringers, way-showers and truth-tellers, and without them, humanity would lose its way in the dark.

The philosopher whose dealings are with divine order himself acquires the characteristics of order and divinity.

The more the pleasures of the body fade away, the greater to me is the pleasure and charm of conversation.

Life must be lived as play, playing certain games, making sacrifices, singing and dancing, and then a man will be able to propitiate the gods.

Let no-one ignorant of geometry enter. Said to have been inscribed above the door of Plato's Academy.

To do injustice is more disgraceful than to suffer it.

Of all the animals, the boy is the most unmanageable.