Socrates Quotes

I thought to myself, 'I am wiser than this man neither of us knows anything that is really worthwhile, but he thinks he has knowledge when he has not, while I, having no knowledge, do not think that I have. I seem, at any rate, to be a little wiser than he is on this point I do not think that I know what I do not know.

man thought knowledge

Wisdom begins in wonder.

wonder wonders life wisdom

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.

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

faults praise actions words

Be slow to fall into friendship but when thou art in, continue firm and constant.

friendship art fall

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

prosperity adversity human depression remember affairs

I decided that it was not wisdom that enabled poets to write their poetry, but a kind of instinct or inspiration, such as you find in seers and prophets who deliver all their sublime messages without knowing in the least what they mean.

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I do nothing but go about persuading you all, old and young alike, not to take thought for your persons or your properties, but and chiefly to care about the greatest improvement of the soul. I tell you that virtue is not given by money, but that from virtue comes money and every other good of man, public as well as private. This is my teaching, and if this is the doctrine which corrupts the youth, I am a mischievous person.

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