Socrates

Father of Western philosophy

Ancient influential 106 sayings

Sayings by Socrates

The only good is knowledge, and the only evil is ignorance.

~4th century BC — General Socratic philosophical principle.
Controversial Confirmed

Strong minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, weak minds discuss people.

~4th century BC — General philosophical observation on intellectual discourse.
Controversial Unverifiable

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.

~4th century BC — A humorous, yet provocative, observation on marriage.
Controversial Confirmed

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.

Early 4th century BC — From Xenophon's Memorabilia, III.12.1, advocating for physical self-improvement.
Controversial Unverifiable

And do you think, you fool, that kisses of love are not venomous, because you perceive not the poison? Know that a beautiful person is a more dangerous animal than scorpions, because these cannot wound unless they touch us; but beauty strikes at a distance: from what place soever we can but behold her, she darts her venom upon us, and overthrows our judgment.

Early 4th century BC — From Xenophon's Memorabilia, I.3.12, warning against sensual passion.
Controversial Unverifiable

Avoid it resolutely; it is not easy to control yourself once you meddle with that sort of thing.

Early 4th century BC — From Xenophon's Memorabilia, I.3.13, referring to sensual passion.
Controversial Unverifiable

If he who undeceives people concerning their own ignorance would make them well-pleased with him, he must deceive them.

~399 BC — From Plato's Apology, 21e, suggesting a necessary paradox in teaching.
Controversial Unverifiable

He who is not a good servant will not be a good master.

~4th century BC — General statement on leadership and obedience.
Controversial Unverifiable

The father habitually tries to resemble the child...

~375 BC — From Plato's Republic, Book 8, 563a, describing the reversal of roles in a democracy.
Controversial Unverifiable

The teacher in such case fears and fawns upon the pupils, and the pupils pay no heed to the teacher or to their overseers either.

~375 BC — From Plato's Republic, Book 8, 563c, describing the decline of respect in democratic education.
Controversial Unverifiable

I am not an Athenian or a Greek, but a citizen of the world.

~4th century BC — General philosophical stance, challenging narrow civic identity.
Controversial Confirmed

The State demands the strong wine of freedom, and unless her rulers give her a plentiful draught, punishes and insults them; equality and fraternity of governors and governed is the approved principle. Anarchy is the law, not of the State only, but of private houses, and extends even to the animals.

~375 BC — From Plato's Republic, Book 8, 562c-d, describing the path to anarchy in democracy.
Controversial Unverifiable

Those who render no service either by word or deed, who cannot help army or city or the people itself in time of need, ought to be stopped, even if they have riches in abundance, above all if they are insolent as well as inefficient.

Early 4th century BC — From Xenophon's Memorabilia, I.2.59, discussing who should be allowed to speak or act in public.
Controversial Unverifiable

He marvelled that anyone should make money by the profession of virtue, and should not reflect that his highest reward would be the gain of a good friend.

Early 4th century BC — From Xenophon's Memorabilia, I.2.7, criticizing Sophists for charging fees.
Controversial Unverifiable

My advice to you is get married: if you find a good wife you'll be happy; if not, you'll become a philosopher.

c. 399 BCE (approximate) — Attributed saying, often found in various collections of his quotes.
Humorous Unverifiable

I know that I am intelligent, because I know that I know nothing.

c. 399 BCE (approximate) — Often cited as a summary of Socratic wisdom, though the exact phrasing varies in ancient texts.
Humorous Unverifiable

An honest man is always a child.

c. 399 BCE (approximate) — Attributed saying.
Humorous Confirmed

I am a fool, but I know I'm a fool and that makes me smarter than you.

c. 399 BCE (approximate) — Attributed saying, reflecting his ironic self-awareness.
Humorous Unverifiable

He would say that the rest of the world lived to eat, while he himself ate to live.

c. 380 BCE (Xenophon's writing) — From Xenophon's Memorabilia.
Humorous Unverifiable

Death may be the greatest of all human blessings.

399 BCE — From Plato's Apology, spoken during his trial.
Humorous Unverifiable