Plato
Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back. Those who wish to sing always find a song. At the touch of a lover, everyone becomes a poet.
PlatoGrant that I may become beautiful in my soul within, and that all my external possessions may be in harmony with my inner self. May I consider the wise to be rich, and may I have such riches as only a person of self-restraint can bear or endure.
PlatoFor a man to conquer himself is the first and noblest of all victories.
PlatoTo be curious about that which is not one's concern while still in ignorance of oneself is ridiculous.
PlatoKnow thyself.
PlatoThe true lover of learning then must his earliest youth, as far as in him lies, desire all truth. . .He whose desires are drawn toward knowledge in every form will be absorbed in the pleasures of the soul, and will hardly feel bodily pleasures- -I mean, if he be a true philosopher and not a sham one. . .Then how can he who has the magnificence of mind and is the spectator of all times and all existence, think much of human life? He cannot. Or can such a one account death fearful? No indeed
PlatoPerfect wisdom has four parts: Wisdom, the principle of doing things aright. Justice, the principle of doing things equally in public and private. Fortitude, the principle of not fleeing danger, but meeting it. Temperance, the principle of subduing desires and living moderately.
PlatoIgnorance of all things is an evil neither terrible nor excessive, nor yet the greatest of all; but great cleverness and much learning, if they be accompanied by a bad training, are a much greater misfortune.
PlatoBe kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.
PlatoOld age has a great sense of calm and freedom.
PlatoOne of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.
PlatoWhen men speak ill of you, live so as nobody may believe them.
PlatoBodily exercise, when compulsory, does no harm to the body; but knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind.
PlatoWealth is well known to be a great comforter.
PlatoPoetry comes nearer to vital truth than history.
PlatoGood actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others.
PlatoKnowledge is the food of the soul.
PlatoWe are twice armed if we fight with faith.
PlatoThe first and best victory is to conquer self; to be conquered by self is of all things most shameful and vile.
PlatoBy education I mean that training in excellence from youth upward which makes a man passionately desire to be a perfect citizen, and teaches him to rule, and to obey, with justice. This is the only education which deserves the name.
PlatoGood people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.
PlatoAt the touch of love, everyone becomes a poet.
PlatoNo law or ordinance is mightier than understanding.
PlatoBeauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity.
PlatoThey do certainly give very strange, and newfangled, names to diseases.
Plato
