120 Socrates Quotes To Provoke Thought
Socrates was one of the greatest and most influential philosophers of all time. His teachings and insights have profoundly shaped Western philosophy, emphasizing the power and importance of critical thinking. This article aims to share some of Socrates’ most thought-provoking and enduring quotes to inspire reflection.
The quotes are organized into sections covering a variety of philosophical themes that Socrates explored through his famous ‘Socratic method’ of questioning. Through dialogues and debates with his students in ancient Athens, Socrates professed that the only true wisdom is knowing that you know nothing. He challenged common assumptions and encouraged people to think for themselves and examine their beliefs critically.
With over 120 quotes on topics like virtue, knowledge, wisdom, truth, and human nature, this collection offers a wealth of inspiring insights from one of history’s keenest minds. Whether contemplating life’s big questions or reexamining your own perspectives, these Socrates quotes are sure to stir thought and discussion. In just a few words, he summed up eternal concepts that are still deeply relevant today. Browse this selection of Socrates’ most poignant quotes to feel their intellectual provocation.
1. Mind challenging ideas on truth and knowledge
‘The beginning is the most important part of the work’ – Plato’s Apology
‘The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing’ – Plato’s Apology
‘I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think’ – Plato’s Apology
‘True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing’ – Plato’s Apology
‘Never do wrong in return, and reproach not, and wisely govern thy passions, for they are blind, but teach thy soul what is lawful and right’ – Plato’s Apology
‘The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our ways – I to die, and you to live. Which is better God only knows’ – Plato’s Apology
‘I spent my life searching for wisdom, and here I am, still searching’ – Plato’s Apology
‘I am wiser than this man, for neither of us appears to know anything great and good; but he fancies he knows something, although he knows nothing; whereas I, as I do not know anything, so I do not fancy I do’ -Plato’s Apology
‘The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new’ – Attributed to Socrates
‘Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives – choice, not chance, determines your destiny’ – Attributed to Plato
‘The unexamined life is not worth living’ – Attributed to Socrates
‘I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think’ – Attributed to Socrates
‘Be as you wish to seem’ – Attributed to Socrates
‘By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you’ll be happy. If you get a bad one, you’ll become a philosopher’ – Attributed to Socrates
‘Wisdom begins in wonder’ – Attributed to Socrates
‘Man – a being in search of meaning’ – Attributed to Plato
‘You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself’ – Attributed to Galileo Galilei
‘True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing’ – Attributed to Socrates
‘Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel’ – Attributed to Socrates
‘To find yourself, think for yourself’ – Attributed to Socrates
2. Thought-provoking quotes on the examined life
“To find yourself, think for yourself.” – Socrates
“Beware the barrenness of a busy life.” – Socrates
“Wonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder.” – Socrates
“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” – Socrates
“The unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates (Greek philosopher, 469-399 BC)
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” – Socrates
“Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.” – Socrates
“Strong minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, weak minds discuss people.” – Socrates
“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.” – Socrates
“Live life as if your every act were to become a universal law.” – Socrates
“The secret to change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” – Socrates
“There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance.” – Socrates
“The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our ways – I to die, and you to live. Which is better God only knows.” – Socrates
“I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.” – Socrates
“He who is not contented with what he has would not be contented with what he would like to have.” – Socrates
“He is richest who is content with the least, for content is the wealth of nature.” – Socrates
“No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.” – Socrates
“I was really too honest a man to be a politician and live.” – Socrates
“Even if only one man gains wisdom from us, that is advantage enough.” – Socrates
“I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.” – Socrates
3. Insightful sayings on human nature and character
‘Wisdom begins in wonder.’ – Unknown
‘It is not living that matters, but living rightly.’ – Unknown
‘Character is simply habit long continued.’ – Unknown
‘The unexamined life is not worth living.’ – Unknown
‘Dare to be wise; begin by wondering why.’ – Unknown
‘Be slow to fall into friendship; but when thou art in, continue faithful.’ – Unknown
‘The first and best victory is to conquer self.’ – Unknown
‘Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow.’ – Unknown
‘Those who tell the stories rule society.’ – Unknown
‘He is rich or poor according to what he is, not according to what he has.’ – Unknown
‘Things do not change; we change.’ – Unknown
‘The essence of life is not in the great acts, but in the little things.’ – Unknown
‘Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.’ – Unknown
‘Silence is safer sometimes than speech.’ – Unknown
‘The easiest way for most people to hide their lack of understanding is behind an air of superiority and arrogance.’ – Unknown
‘Man’s true nature and spirit shines most in adversity.’ – Unknown
‘What sorrow or ruin have these reasonings ever caused?’ – Unknown
‘We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.’ – Unknown
‘Man knows not what is good for man.’ – Unknown
‘The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.’ – Unknown
4. Thoughts on questioning assumptions and convention
– “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” – Socrates
– “When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser.” – Socrates
– “Wisdom begins in wonder.” – Socrates
– “The unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates
– “All I know is that I know nothing.” – Socrates
– “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.” – Socrates
– “To find myself, I must question everything.” – Socrates
– “Be as you wish to seem.” – Socrates
– “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” – Socrates
– “The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.” – Socrates
– “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” – Socrates
– “Appearance is superior to reality, and the illusion of knowledge is more useful than knowledge itself.” – Socrates
– “There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance.” – Socrates
– “Even if only one is left standing, one must still dissent.” – Socrates
– “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.” – Socrates
– “To know, is to know that one knows; to not know, is to think one knows and to not know.” – Socrates
– “The first step is belief in something; the second, knowledge through thinking; the third, knowledge through thought fused with sense-experience.” – Socrates
– “Weak men never raise their voice, strong and mighty men do not need to.”- Socrates
5. Probing wisdom on intellectual discussion and debate
“A person’s wisdom is predominant in their capacity for discussion without anger or impatience.” – Socrates
“Once you have come to a question where you cannot proceed further in the Socratic method, it behooves you to be silent or change the subject rather than continue discussion fruitlessly.” – Socrates
“I cannot teach anybody anything. I can only make them think.” – Socrates
“It is better to be at odds with the whole world than, being one, to be at odds with myself.” – Socrates
“Do not do to others that which angers you if done to you by others.” – Socrates
“Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.” – Socrates
“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” – Plato’s version of a Socrates saying
“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.” – Socrates
“I cannot teach anyone anything, I can only make them think.” – Socrates
“No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.” – Socrates
“Strong minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, weak minds discuss people.” – Socrates
“In war, resolutions are useless, and brute force the only thing that gains respect.” – Socrates
“I decided that I would never stop the philosophic questioning to which I had committed my life.” – Socrates
“Excellence is not a gift, but a skill that takes practice.” – Socrates
“Wisdom begins in wonder.” – Socrates
“May I never be so fond of life, as to be insensible of its brevity; nor so far enamored of it, as to forget its condition.” – Socrates
“The secret to happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.” – Socrates
“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” – Socrates
“Advice is like snow – the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper it sinks into the mind.” – Socrates
“To find yourself, think for yourself.” – Socrates
6. Ponderings on morality, justice and civic duty
“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.” – Socrates
“No man has the right to live who wishes to be released from the duty of living virtuously.” – Socrates
“There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance.” – Socrates
“Nothing can be more absurd than the practice that prevails in our country of men’s easing themselves anywhere…. For this is what is done by people who have no conception of what is right, proper, or agreeable.” – Socrates
“It is better to be at odds with the whole world than, being one, to be at odds with myself.” – Socrates
“I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.” – Socrates
“An unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates
“I know that I know nothing.” – Socrates
“No man understandeth any thing aright, but hee that receiveth it with charity.” – Socrates
“False words are not only evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil.” – Socrates
“The unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates
“To find yourself, think for yourself.” – Socrates
“What is a citizen? A citizen is one who enjoys the protection of the state, submits to its laws and identifies with its well being.” – Socrates
“When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser.” – Socrates
“Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.” – Socrates
“I know you won’t believe me, but I am not educated.” – Socrates
“No man desires to procure evil for himself.” – Socrates
“I am wiser than this man, for neither of us appears to know anything great and good; but he fancies he knows something, although he knows nothing; whereas I, as I do not know anything, so I do not fancy I do.” – Socrates
“The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.” – Socrates
“There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance.” – Socrates
Conclusion
Socrates was one of the wisest men of ancient Greece and his words continue resonating with people today. The quotes presented share profound insights into philosophy, ethics and critical thinking. By questioning our assumptions and examining our beliefs, these thought-provoking maxims encourage us to challenge conventional wisdom and reflect more deeply. As society advances rapidly, it is important that we do not lose sight of timeless lessons. I encourage readers to revisit these powerful quotes and apply Socrates’ spirit of questioning to gain a fuller understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Reflecting on his ideas can
