Plato, the most intelligent of Socrates’ students, laid the foundations of ethics, aesthetics, epistemology, metaphysics, and early forms of science.
When Socrates was sentenced to death by the Athenian government, Plato decided to travel to learn all he could about philosophy, mathematics, science, astrology, and religion. While journeying, his name thundered all over Greece; his ideas brought joy both in the era of Antiquity and today.
Many of his statements are now analyzed into quotes that help build our picture world. So, what famous sayings does Plato have?
1. “Wise Men Speak Because They Have Something to Say; Fools Because They Have to Say Something”
This Plato quote was chosen first since it is thought-provoking. It highlights the difference between a wise person and a fool regarding why they speak. A wise person has valuable knowledge or wisdom to contribute to the conversation. They have something deep and meaningful to say.
This person knows that speaking should be thoughtful, and they choose their words carefully. Their goal is to add something of value or depth to the discussion or to provoke thought somehow. But they also understand the power of silence – if there’s nothing meaningful for them to add, they won’t speak just for the sake of it.
Fools, however, speak only because they want to be heard talking. What they say lacks substance; there’s no weight behind their words. This person doesn’t consider whether their words make any real contribution.
For instance, two friends might sit around discussing ethics; one might make some profound point about morality that took years of thinking and reading Plato (and many others) before he could even begin; another friend (a fool) barges into this conversation at full volume without knowing much at all about philosophy, ethics, morality – but still insists on sharing his uninformed opinion loudly!
The best use of this quote is as a reminder for everyone reading it: always think deeply about your motivations when you open your mouth during discussions. Do you actually have anything worth contributing? Or are you just filling up space?
2. “Courage Is Knowing What Not to Fear”
What does true courage really mean? In one of his most famous quotes, Plato offers a thought-provoking definition: “Courage is knowing what not to fear.” This concise statement sums up Plato’s concept of genuine bravery and provides valuable insight into the philosopher’s mindset.
What does it mean to know what not to fear? To get at the heart of Plato’s message, we need to dive more deeply into his philosophy. According to the ancient Greek thinker, courage isn’t the absence of fear – instead, it’s overcoming or conquering your fears through knowledge and wisdom.
Plato argues that true bravery comes from understanding and rationally assessing potential dangers. It’s not simply about being audacious or having no fear; instead, courage involves having a sense of which fears are irrational or unfounded – and knowing what not to spend time worrying about.
By knowing what they don’t have to worry about, people can focus on things that really matter and make bold decisions without getting bogged down in needless anxieties.
To illustrate further with an example, think about someone who is terrified of public speaking but desperately wants to become a motivational speaker. They quake with terror before every speech, doubt their abilities, and wonder if they should give up altogether.
If they embodied Plato on this point, however, they would recognize that their fear is misplaced – there’s nothing actually threatening them when they get up in front of people! Through knowledge and rational thinking about risk (or lack thereof), you’d see that public speaking doesn’t warrant dread or anxiety.
In essence, then, real bravery lies in overcoming those things you’ve legitimately realized aren’t worth being scared by versus ignoring your fears entirely or putting yourself in danger by being reckless.
So rather than being purely driven by emotions alone—as many people likely think of courage—Plato is really saying: Cultivate the ability to make objective assessments of situations and decisions; decide what’s genuinely worth being scared by or not.
3. “The Measure of a Man Is What He Does With Power.”
While people attain power, most use it with interests for personal gains, to control others, or to accomplish self-serving motives. But as Plato stated: “The measure of a man is what he does with power,” only in its usage can one prove their character when using hard-gained influence in life.
Plato was confident that those with access to power have the responsibility to apply it wisely so that other commoners might benefit from it. Wielding those reins is insufficient – they should be used to improve society and help fellow beings.
An example of this concept can be seen projected in one of Plato’s dialogues—The Republic—where he introduces philosopher kings: rulers whose strongest motivation isn’t personal benefit but, quite contrarily, wisdom and virtue. According to Plato, these philosopher-kings would rule with wisdom and ensure their judgment improved society rather than serving self-interests.
For example, someone who gets promoted in a company from an employee at the manager level to gain executive power like being CEO. What they do with increased power within the organization will define or break our definition of them as individuals.
When their sole focus turns into profit-maximizing regardless of how it happens—for example, by trampling on ethical considerations such as workers’ rights and environmental sustainability—there is some lack of compassion and responsibility.
However, if they did the business with empathy and targeted ethical practices that tend to work in favor of employees (and society more broadly), we would be inclined to view them as having integrity and moral fiber.
So, what does Plato want to say? We generally have moments in life when standing in positions of power/authority requires us to take pauses and reflect upon our own actions. The decisions taken at every point decide whether we stand up as individuals, impact others positively, or fail to make use of the position for selfish reasons.
4. “At the Touch of Love, Everyone Becomes a Poet”
Love is a pre-eminent concept in Plato’s philosophical system. In his work Symposium, he posits the idea that love has various levels or forms. The lowest level is physical desire (eros), which seeks beauty in bodies. As one passes from level to level, they gradually move toward an appreciation of intellectual beauty (philia) and ultimately reach contemplation of ultimate beauty itself (agape).
When Plato suggests that “everyone becomes a poet” when touched by love, he means that love often awakens intense passion and inspiration within people. Love stirs their creative faculties and enables them to see beyond the everyday aspects of life, eliciting emotions that call forth profound poetic expression.
Not only can love unleash our creative potential, but it can also connect us with higher truths and ideals. Through their encounters with love in its different manifestations, individuals acquire insight into the nature of—to use concepts central to Platonic philosophy—goodness and beauty. They go beyond mere physicality and enter states where artistic creation thrives.
To bring this idea alive, we might consider instances from literature or music where individuals who have experienced great tenderness are inspired to create poetry rich in feeling.
For instance, Shakespeare’s sonnets testify how powerful emotions released by amour propel poetic expression – whether an exploration of unrequited longing or a hymn to enduring ardor.
Ultimately, says Plato, once someone has been touched by true love—particularly eros backed up by intellectual bonding—their soul almost ascends to divinity; such elevation empowers them to draw on what has now become almost boundless capacities for creativity expressed through verse.
5. “We Can Easily Forgive a Child Who Is Afraid of the Dark; the Real Tragedy of Life Is When Men Are Afraid of the Light.”
One final quote we want to consider is Plato’s famous remark, “We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.” Plato touches on a key idea in philosophy in this quotation: knowledge.
According to Plato’s theory of forms, an eternal realm exists where perfect and unchanging ideas or forms exist – representing ultimate reality. In contrast, our physical world only reflects these ideal forms and does so imperfectly. True knowledge comes from contemplating and understanding these forms.
This quotation suggests that children naturally fear what they do not know – just as they fear darkness because they cannot see what it contains. But as people grow up and mature, they become interested in overcoming this fear by acquiring knowledge. They no longer want to be ignorant but actively seek enlightenment.
On another level, Plato implies that it’s tragic if adults remain fearful about seeking enlightenment. The greatest tragedy is refusing to challenge one’s opinions or move outside a comfort zone. People frightened of new ideas limit their intellectual growth.
For example, imagine someone who never questions their beliefs but clings stubbornly to outdated views—prejudice or stereotypes or dogmas simply because those things feel comfortable or are familiar—someone who deliberately avoids exposure to alternative perspectives so remains cloaked in intellectual darkness.
By doing all that, such a person misses opportunities for personal development and understanding others better.
At root, Plato wanted to say that people shouldn’t be scared about embracing what they could learn and not shy away from experiences that might enlighten them and stretch their brains. It will help them grow personally by broadening their horizons and challenging preconceptions.
So, What Does Plato Teach Us?
Plato’s quotes give us precious introspection on various aspects of existence and human life. His teachings remind us that speaking for a reason, not just talking, is where wisdom lies. A wise person knows how potent silence can be and only contributes when it truly matters.
Courage, Plato suggests, means that the decision is made about what really should be feared – rather than being fearless at all times. Rational assessment and knowledge are the source of true courage; they enable people to make good decisions despite their fears.
Power is what you do with it. Plato makes this point by showing how one’s character can be measured by how power is used. If you have authority or influence over others, you are responsible for using that power well and for the greater good. The measure of a person is in what they do rather than what advantages there are for them personally.
Besides, love has the potential to change everything. In Plato’s eyes, love has transformative powers – it brings out our poetic side, connects us to our deeper self, and enables us to let go of superficial concerns so we may appreciate intellectual beauty and higher truths.
To sum up, learning from Plato involves thinking hard before saying anything, making brave decisions based on rational thought, using our power wisely, and knowing love has great value if handled correctly.
