The wise man seeks death all his life, and for this reason death is not terrifying to him.
Socrates (c. 470–399 BCE) was an ancient Greek philosopher who is often regarded as one of the founders of Western philosophy. Born in Athens, he is best known for his contributions to ethics and epistemology, emphasizing the importance of self-knowledge and critical questioning. Socrates did not write any texts himself; instead, his ideas were documented by his students, most notably Plato.
Central to Socratic thought is the Socratic method, a form of cooperative dialogue that encourages deep exploration of ideas through questioning. This technique challenged his contemporaries to think critically and examine their beliefs.
Among his enduring quotes, “The unexamined life is not worth living” encapsulates his belief in the necessity of introspection. Socrates’ commitment to seeking truth and virtue, even in the face of death, has left a lasting legacy, influencing countless philosophers and thinkers throughout history. His life and ideas continue to inspire discussions about morality, knowledge, and the human condition.
Be of good cheer about death, and know this of a truth, that no evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death.
The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our separate ways, I to die, and you to live. Which of these two is better only God knows.
No one knows whether death may not be the greatest of all blessings for a man, yet men fear it as if they knew it was the greatest of evils.
To fear death, gentlemen, is no other than to think oneself wise when one is not, to think one knows what one does not know.
Remember, no human condition is ever permanent.
Be nicer than necessary to everyone you meet. Everyone is fighting some kind of battle.
He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.
Our prayers should be for blessings in general, for God knows best what is good for us.
He is rich who is content with the least; for contentment is the wealth of nature.
Everyone wants to tell you what to do and what’s good for you. They don’t want you to find your own answers, they want you to believe theirs.
Life is full of questions. Idiots are full of answers.
It’s not living that matters, but living rightly.
There is no possession more valuable than a good and faithful friend.
What screws us up the most in life is the picture in our heads of what it’s supposed to be.
Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.
I call myself a peaceful warrior because the battles we fight are on the inside.
True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves, and the world around us.
The only true wisdom is to know that you know nothing.
The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.
The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.
Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down.
Be slow to fall into friendship, but when you are in, continue firm and constant.
By all means marry; if you get a good wife, you’ll become happy; if you get a bad one, you’ll become a philosopher.