Sócrates

The right way to begin is to pay attention to the young, and make them just as good as possible.

Not by wisdom do they [poets] make what they compose, but by a gift of nature and an inspiration similar to that of the diviners and the oracles:

One ought not to return injustice, nor do evil to anybody in the world, no matter what one may have suffered from them.

What most counts is not to live, but to live aright.

Living or dead, to a good man there can come no evil.

In every sort of danger there are various ways of winning through, if one is ready to do and say anything whatever.

Nobody knows, in fact, what death is, nor whether to man it is not perchance the greatest of all blessings; yet people fear it as if they surely knew it to be the worst of evils.

Nature has given us two ears, two eyes, and but one tongue — to the end that we should hear and see more than we speak.

“Why should we pay so much attention to what the majority thinks?”

“Contentment is natural wealth, luxury is artificial poverty.”

“Better to do a little well than a great deal badly.”

“To move the world, we must first move ourselves.”

And in knowing that you know nothing, that makes you the smartest of all.

True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing.

Living well and beautifully and justly are all one thing.

But already it is time to depart, for me to die, for you to go on living; which of us takes the better course, is concealed from anyone except God.

Whenever, therefore, people are deceived and form opinions wide of the truth, it is clear that the error has slid into their minds through the medium of certain resemblances to that truth.

When desire, having rejected reason and overpowered judgment which leads to right, is set in the direction of the pleasure which beauty can inspire.

I was afraid that by observing objects with my eyes and trying to comprehend them with each of my other senses I might blind my soul altogether.

To find yourself, think for yourself.

The shortest and surest way to live with honour in the world, is to be in reality what we would appear to be; and if we observe, we shall find, that all human virtues increase and strengthen themselves by the practice of them.

Regard your good name as the richest jewel you can possibly be possessed of - for credit is like fire; when once you have kindled it you may easily preserve it, but if you once extinguish it, you will find it an arduous task to rekindle it again. The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.

Do not do to others what angers you if done to you by others.

Remember what is unbecoming to do is also unbecoming to speak of.

Envy is the ulcer of the soul.

Remember that there is nothing stable in human affairs; therefore, avoid undue elation in prosperity, or undue depression in adversity.

You are providing for your disciples a show of wisdom without the reality. For, acquiring by you means much information unaided by instruction, they will appear to possess much knowledge, while, in fact, they will, for the most part, know nothing at all; and, moreover, be disagreeable people to deal with, as having become wise in their own conceit, instead of truly wise.

Get not your friends by bare compliments, but by giving them sensible tokens of your love.

Think not those faithful who praise all thy words and actions; but those who kindly reprove thy faults.

The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our ways - I to die, and you to live. Which is better God only knows.

Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.

Having the fewest wants, I am nearest to the gods.

Children nowadays are tyrants. They contradict their parents, gobble their food, and tyrannize their teachers.

I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.

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 .

Fame is the perfume of heroic deeds.