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SOCRATES Quotes
(469-399 B. C), Greek philosopher
The shortest and surest way to live with honor in the world, is to be in reality what we would appear to be.
I pray thee, O God, that I may be beautiful within.
The shortest and surest way to live with honor in the world, is to be in reality what we would appear to be; all human virtues increase and strengthen themselves by the practice and experience of them.
Wind puffs up empty bladders; opinion, fools.
We cannot live better than in seeking to become better, nor more agreeably than in having a clear conscience.
He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.
Contentment is natural wealth, luxury is artificial poverty.
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.
If thou take delight in idle argumentation, thou mayest be qualified to combat with the sophists, but will never know how to live with men.
The greatest flood has soonest ebb; the sorest tempest, the most sudden calm; the hottest love, the coldest end; and from the deepest desire often ensues the deadliest hate.
Fame is the perfume of heroic deeds.
Be slow to fall into friendship; but when thou art in, continue firm and constant.
Get not your friends by bare compliments, but by giving them sensible tokens of your love. It is well worth while to learn how to win the heart of a man the right way. Force is of no use to make or preserve a friend, who is an animal that is never caught nor tamed but by kindness and pleasure. Excite them by your civilities, and show them that you desire nothing more than their satisfaction; oblige with all your soul that friend who has made you a present of his own.
The shortest and surest way to live with honor 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 and experience of them.
Not only is he idle who is doing nothing, but he that might be better employed.
All men's souls are immortal, but the souls of the righteous are both immortal and divine.
Let him that would move the world, first move himself.
They who provide much wealth for their children but neglect to improve them in virtue, do like those who feed their horses high, but never train them to be useful.
What is in conformity with justice should also be in conformity to the laws.
The end of life is to be like God, and the soul following God will be like him.
The tongue of a fool is the key of his counsel, which, in a wise man, wisdom hath in keeping.
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.
If all the misfortunes of mankind were cast into a public stock, in order to be equally distributed among the whole species, those who now think themselves the most unhappy would prefer the share they are already possessed of before that which would fall to them by such a division.
Wind puffs up empty bladders; opinion, fools.
Think not those faithful who praise all thy words and actions, but those who kindly reprove thy faults.
Our prayers should be for blessings in general, for God knows best what is good for us.
The gains of prodigals are like fig trees growing on a precipice: for these, none are better but kites and crows; for those, only harlots and flatterers.
I pray thee, O God, that I may be beautiful within.
The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.
He is richest who is content with the least, for content is the wealth of nature.
If a rich man is proud of his wealth, he should not be praised until it is known how he employs it.
The shortest and surest way to live with honor in the world, is to be in reality what we would appear to be; all human virtues increase and strengthen themselves by the practice and experience of them.
Listen not to a tale-bearer or slanderer, for he tells thee nothing out of good will; but as he discovereth of the secrets of others, so he will of thine in turn.
Slavery is a system of outrage and robbery.
Such as thy words are, such will thine affections be esteemed; and such as thine affections, will be thy deeds; and such as thy deeds will be thy life.
The tongue of a fool is the key of his counsel, which, in a wise man, wisdom hath in keeping.
Such as thy words are, such will thy affections be esteemed; and such will thy deeds as thy affections, and such life as thy deeds.
The tongue of a fool is the key of his counsel which, in a wise man, wisdom hath in keeping.
The fewer our wants, the nearer we resemble the gods.
He is richest who is content with the least, for content is the wealth of nature.
The Delphic oracle said I was the wisest of all the Greeks. It is because that I alone, of all the Greeks, know that I know nothing.
Such as thy words are, such will thy affections be esteemed; and such will thy deeds be as thy affections; and such thy life as thy deeds.
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