Strong minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, weak minds discuss people.
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.
I cannot teach anybody anything. I can only make them think
An unexamined life is not worth living.
By all means marry. If you get a good spouse you'll become happy, while if you get a bad one you'll become a philosopher.
It is a disgrace to grow old through sheer carelessness before seeing what manner of man you may become by developing your bodily strength and beauty to their highest limit.
A man who really fights for justice must lead a private, not a public, life if he is to survive for even a short time.
To fear death, gentlemen, is no other then to think oneself wise when one is not, to think one knows what one does not know.
I am likely to be wiser than he to this small, extent, that I do not think I know what I do not know.
I believe things cannot make themselves impossible.
Living well and beautifully and justly are all one thing.
The misuse of language induces evil in the soul.
The mind is everything; what you think you become
To move the world we must move ourselves.
Not life, but good life, is to be chiefly valued.
Through your rags I see your vanity.
He is not only idle who does nothing, but he is idle who might be better employed.
Those who are hardest to love need it the most.
The end of life is to be like god, and the soul following god will be like him.
I know nothing except the fact of my ignorance.
From the deepest desires often come the deadliest hate.
True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing.
The unexamined life is not worth living.
All men's souls are immortal, but the souls of the righteous are immortal and divine.
Let him that would move the world first move himself.