And all knowledge, when separated from justice and virtue, is seen to be cunning and not wisdom; wherefore make this your first and last and constant and all-absorbing aim, to exceed, if possible, not only us but all your ancestors in virtue; and know that to excel you in virtue only brings us shame, but that to be excelled by you is a source of happiness to us.
PlatoThe cure of many diseases is unknown to physicians because they are ignorant of the whole... For the part can never be well unless the whole is well.
PlatoIf the study of all these sciences which we have enumerated, should ever bring us to their mutual association and relationship, and teach us the nature of the ties which bind them together, I believe that the diligent treatment of them will forward the objects which we have in view, and that the labor, which otherwise would be fruitless, will be well bestowed.
PlatoMisanthropy ariseth from a man trusting another without having sufficient knowledge of his character, and, thinking him to be truthful, sincere, and honourable, finds a little afterwards that he is wicked, faithless, and then he meets with another of the same character. When a man experiences this often, and more particularly from those whom he considered his most dear and best friends, at last, having frequently made a slip, he hates the whole world, and thinks that there is nothing sound at all in any of them.
PlatoThe physician, to the extent he is a physician, considers only the good of the patient in what he prescribes, and his own not at all
PlatoPoverty doesn't come because of the decrease of wealth but because of the increase of desires.
PlatoThe laws of democracy remain a dead letter, its freedom is anarchy, its equality the equality of unequals
PlatoA man who really fights for justice must lead a private, not a public, life if he is to survive for even a short time.
PlatoHomosexuality is regarded as shameful by barbarians and by those who live under despotic governments just as philosophy is regarded as shameful by them, because it is apparently not in the interest of such rulers to have great ideas engendered in their subjects, or powerful friendships or passionate love - all of which homosexuality is particularly apt to produce.
PlatoConsider how great is the encouragement which all the world gives to the lover; neither is he supposed to be doing anything dishonourable; but if he succeeds he is praised, and if he fail he is blamed.
PlatoIf someone separated the art of counting and measuring and weighing from all the other arts, what was left of each (of the others) would be, so to speak, insignificant.
PlatoThe learning and knowledge that we have,is,at the most,but little compared with that of which we are ignorant.
PlatoMuch sleep is not required by nature, either for our souls or bodies, or for the action in which they are concerned.
PlatoThe 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.
PlatoMankind censure injustice fearing that they may be the victims of it, and not because they shrink from committing it.
PlatoCome then, and let us pass a leisure hour in storytelling, and our story shall be the education of our heroes.
PlatoAccording to Diotima, Love is not a god at all, but is rather a spirit that mediates between people and the objects of their desire. Love is neither wise nor beautiful, but is rather the desire for wisdom and beauty.
PlatoJust as bees make honey from thyme, the strongest and driest of herbs, so do the wise profit from the most difficult of experiences.
PlatoMadness, provided it comes as the gift of heaven, is the channel by which we receive the greatest blessings... the men of old who gave things their names saw no disgrace or reproach in madness; otherwise they would not have connected it with the name of the noblest of arts, the art of discerning the future, and called it the manic art... So, according to the evidence provided by our ancestors, madness is a nobler thing than sober sense... madness comes from God, whereas sober sense is merely human.
PlatoLaws are partly formed for the sake of good men, in order to instruct them how they may live on friendly terms with one another, and partly for the sake of those who refuse to be instructed, whose spirit cannot be subdued, or softened, or hindered from plunging into evil.
PlatoTo fear death, gentlemen, is no other then to think oneself wise when one is not, to think one knows what one does not know.
PlatoBut at three, four, five, and even six years the childish nature will require sports; now is the time to get rid of self-will in him, punishing him, but not so as to disgrace him.
PlatoWhat if the man could see Beauty Itself, pure, unalloyed, stripped of mortality, and all its pollution, stains, and vanities, unchanging, divine,... the man becoming in that communion, the friend of God,... ?
PlatoThere are few people so stubborn in their atheism who, when danger is pressing in, will not acknowledge the divine power.
PlatoAs the proverb says, "a good beginning is half the business" and "to have begun well" is praised by all.
PlatoUntil philosophers are kings, or the kings and princes of this world have the spirit and power of philosophy, and political greatness and wisdom meet in one, and those commoner natures who pursue either to the exclusion of the other are compelled to stand aside, cities will never have rest from their evils - no, nor the human race, as I believe - and then only will this our State have a possibility of life and behold the light of day.
Plato