Best Plato Quotes, Sayings, Images

Learn his outlook on life, politics, and reason from the ancient Greek philosopher

Our Plato quotes and images put the spotlight on one of the most influential philosophers the world has ever know. He was a student of Socrates and an instructor to Aristotle in the middle fourth century B.C. He grew up in Athens, Greece, and was also influenced by Parmenides and the Pythagoreans.

As Socrates never put anything down in writing, Plato is also known for being Socrates’ primary author and most reliable.

Plato’s most famous work is The Republic. In this work, Plato provided his own philosophy. He addresses topics like politics, ethics, and moral psychology. In this work, Plato introduces the concept that is now known as “Platonic love.” Platonic love is a type of close relationship that is non-romantic in nature.

To recognize the wisdom of man, we’ve gathered up his 23 best Plato quotes and images for your review to share with friends and colleagues.

Famous Plato Quotes

Plato is widely regarded as one of the most significant contributors to Western philosophy. His thinking influenced a long line of philosophers and continues so today.

Famous and best Socrates quotes image

1.) Plato love quote for the ages

“Love is a serious mental disease.”

Plato love quote image

2.) Being good creates a cascading effect

“Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others.”

Plato quote image

3.) Be kind to those struggling

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

Be kind plato quote image

4.) The philosophy of thinking

“Thinking – the talking of the soul with itself.”

Thinking saying image

5.) Democracy and government carry responsibilities

“The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.”

plato quote saying image

6.) Plato on the futility of war

“Only the dead have seen the end of the war.”
– Plato

War quote image

7.) Speak up to protect your rights

“Your silence gives consent.”

Silence gives consent image

8.) Difference between knowledge and wisdom

“Knowledge without justice ought to be called cunning rather than wisdom.”

Plato knowledge quote image

9.) On how people behave

“Human behavior flows from three main sources: desire, emotion, and knowledge.”

Plato quote image

10.) Reward progress at any pace

“Never discourage anyone… who continually makes progress, no matter how slow.”

Progress saying image

11.) Plato lines on courage and bravery

“Courage is knowing what not to fear.”

Courage quote image

12.) Society and adhering to the law

“Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the law.”
– Plato

Check out 20 Best Marcus Aurelius Quotes.

Good people Plato quote image

13.) Plato Republic quotations

“We are twice armed if we fight with faith.”

Plato faith saying image

14.) Evaluating contribution to society

“The measure of a man is what he does with power.”

Measure of a man quote image

15.) The subjective nature of evaluating beauty

“Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.”

Plato beauty quote image

16.) On politics and decision-making

“A good decision is based on knowledge and not on numbers.”

knowledge quote image

17.) Assessing a man’s contribution by how much he talks

“As empty vessels make the loudest sound, so they that have the least wit are the greatest babblers.”

Plato quote image

18.) Famous Plato love quote

“At the touch of love, everyone becomes a poet.”

Plato poet quote image

19.) Mastery requires work

“Excellence is not a gift, but a skill that takes practice. We do not act ‘rightly’ because we are ‘excellent’, in fact, we achieve ‘excellence’ by acting ‘rightly.’”

Excellence saying image

20.) Gratitude and contentment

“The greatest wealth is to live content with little.”

Plato wealth quote image

21.) Education through discussion

“Opinion is the medium between knowledge and ignorance.”

Plato opinion saying image

22.) Plato quotes on education

“The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future in life.”

Plato education saying image

23.) Best Plato saying on wisdom

“Wonder is the beginning of wisdom.”

Plato wonder quote image

Plato’s Best and Worst Ideas Video

Plato’s Writings

Plato covered a wide range of topics in his writings including epistemology (the study of knowledge), theology, cosmology, beauty, metaphysics (the study of nature), equality, and justice. Some historians believe that the name Plato was a nickname. These historians believe his real name is Aristocles.

Plato served as a soldier in the Sparta vs. Athens War in 409 – 404 B.C. Sparta defeated Athens. In 385 B.C., Plato founded the first institution of higher learning in the Western world and named it The Academy.

A study in 1999 revealed that there are some 2,894 books about Plato. This made him the 10th most famous person who ever lived on the face of the earth at that time. Given the fact that he died before Christ, that speaks volumes (literally) to the longevity of his thinking.

-MacKenzie Murdoch

MacKenzie writes about philosophy, history, and culture.

Further Reading

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