Rhythm and melody enter into the soul of the well-instructed youth and produce there a certain mental harmony hardly obtainable in any other way. . . . thus music, too, is concerned with the principles of love in their application to harmony and rhythm.
PlatoWhat 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.
PlatoIt is correct to make a priority of young people, taking care that they turn out as well as possible.
PlatoIf there is a good and wise God, then there also exists a progress of humanity toward perfection.
PlatoThere are some whom the applause of the multitude has deluded into the belief that they are really statesmen.
PlatoIs it not also true that no physician, in so far as he is a physician, considers or enjoins what is for the physician's interest, but that all seek the good of their patients? For we have agreed that a physician strictly so called, is a ruler of bodies, and not a maker of money, have we not?
PlatoOne should turn towards the main ocean of the-beautiful-in-the-world so that one may by, contemplation of this Form, bring forth in all their splendor many fair fruits of discourse and meditation in a plenteous crop of philosophy.
PlatoArithmetic is a kind of knowledge in which the best natures should be trained, and which must not be given up.
PlatoThe god of love lives in a state of need. It is a need. It is an urge. It is a homeostatic imbalance. Like hunger and thirst, it's almost impossible to stamp out.
PlatoIf we are to have any hope for the future, those who have lanterns must pass them on to others.
PlatoIs there anything worse for a state than to be split and disunited? or anything better than cohesion and unity?
PlatoThere is also a third kind of madness, which is possession by the Muses, enters into a delicate and virgin soul, and there inspiring frenzy, awakens lyric... But he, who, not being inspired and having no touch of madness in his soul, comes to the door and thinks he will get into the temple by the help of art - he, I say, and his poetry are not admitted; the sane man is nowhere at all when he enters into rivalry with the madman.
PlatoObserve that open loves are held to be more honourable than secret ones, and that the love of the noblest and highest, even if their persons are less beautiful than others, is especially honourable.
PlatoHarmony is a symphony, and symphony is an agreement; but an agreement of disagreements while they disagree there cannot be; you cannot harmonize that which disagrees.
PlatoIt is fear and terror that make all men brave, except the philosophers. Yet it is illogical to be brave through fear and cowardice.
PlatoWhat a handsome face he had: but if he were naked you would forget he had a face, he is so beautiful in every way.
PlatoThe true champion of justice, if he intends to survive even for a short time, must necessarily confine himself to private life and leave politics alone.
PlatoThen not only custom, but also nature affirms that to do is more disgraceful than to suffer injustice, and that justice is equality.
PlatoThe ultimate design of the Mysteries ... was to lead us back to the principles from which we descended, ... a perfect enjoyment of intellectual [spiritual] good.
PlatoTime on its back bears all things far away - Full many a challenge is wrought by many a day - Shape, fortune, name, and nature all decay
PlatoA library of wisdom, is more precious than all wealth, and all things that are desirable cannot be compared to it. Whoever therefore claims to be zealous of truth, of happiness, of wisdom or knowledge, must become a lover of books.
Plato