Socrates (born c. 470 BCE, Athens [Greece]—died 399 BCE, Athens) was a classical Greek Athenian philosopher. Credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy, he is an enigmatic figure known chiefly through the accounts of later classical writers, especially the writings of his students Plato and Xenophon, and the plays of his contemporary Aristophanes¹.
Socrates believed that philosophy should achieve practical results for the greater well-being of society. He attempted to establish an ethical system based on human reason rather than theological doctrine².
View our collection of the greatest Socrates quotes about life, soul, and wisdom.
Quotes From Socrates
A system of morality which is based on relative emotional values is a mere illusion, a thoroughly vulgar conception which has nothing sound in it and nothing true. — Socrates
All men’s souls are immortal, but the souls of the righteous are immortal and divine. — Socrates
An honest man is always a child. — Socrates
As for me, all I know is that I know nothing. — Socrates
As to marriage or celibacy, let a man take which course he will, he will be sure to repent. — Socrates
Be as you wish to seem. — Socrates
Be slow to fall into friendship; but when thou art in, continue firm and constant. — Socrates
Beauty is a short-lived tyranny. — Socrates
Beauty is the bait which with delight allures man to enlarge his kind. — Socrates
Beware the barrenness of a busy life. — 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
Death may be the greatest of all human blessings. — Socrates
Employ your time in improving yourself by other men’s writings, so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for. — Socrates
False words are not only evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil. — Socrates
From the deepest desires often come the deadliest hate. — Socrates
He is a man of courage who does not run away, but remains at his post and fights against the enemy. — Socrates
He is richest who is content with the least, for content is the wealth of nature. — Socrates
I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing. — Socrates
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. — Socrates
I know nothing except the fact of my ignorance. — Socrates
I know that I am intelligent, because I know that I know nothing. — Socrates
I only wish that ordinary people had an unlimited capacity for doing harm; then they might have an unlimited power for doing good. — Socrates
I was really too honest a man to be a politician and live. — Socrates
If a man is proud of his wealth, he should not be praised until it is known how he employs it. — Socrates
If all misfortunes were laid in one common heap whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be contented to take their own and depart. — Socrates
It is not living that matters, but living rightly. — Socrates
Let him that would move the world first move himself. — Socrates
My advice to you is get married: if you find a good wife you’ll be happy; if not, you’ll become a philosopher. — Socrates
Not life, but good life, is to be chiefly valued. — Socrates
Once made equal to man, woman becomes his superior. — Socrates
One who is injured ought not to return the injury, for on no account can it be right to do an injustice; and it is not right to return an injury, or to do evil to any man, however much we have suffered from him. — Socrates
Ordinary people seem not to realize that those who really apply themselves in the right way to philosophy are directly and of their own accord preparing themselves for dying and death. — Socrates
Our prayers should be for blessings in general, for God knows best what is good for us. — Socrates
The end of life is to be like God, and the soul following God will be like Him. — Socrates
The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be. — Socrates
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing. — Socrates
The poets are only the interpreters of the Gods. — Socrates
The unexamined life is not worth living. — Socrates
The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear. — Socrates
To know, is to know that you know nothing. That is the meaning of true knowledge. — Socrates
True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing. — Socrates
True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves, and the world around us. — Socrates
Where there is reverence there is fear, but there is not reverence everywhere that there is fear, because fear presumably has a wider extension than reverence. — Socrates
Wisdom begins in wonder. — Socrates
Worthless people live only to eat and drink; people of worth eat and drink only to live. — Socrates
Recommended:
TOP 20 Adam Smith Quotes (The Godfather of Economics) Which are your favorite Adam Smith quotes? Adam Smith, (baptized June 5, 1723, Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland—died July 17, 1790, Edinburgh), Scottish social philosopher and political economist. After two centuries, Adam…
Passages The subtitle of this book Passages is: "How Reading The Bible in a Year Will Change Everything For You" - it is a great summary of what the book is…
168 Benjamin Franklin Quotes on Politics, Moral,… Benjamin Franklin (April 17, 1790) was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician,…
Top 10 Inspirational Donald Trump Quotes on Success Donald J. Trump is the 45th President of the United States. He believes the United States has incredible potential and will go on to exceed even its remarkable achievements of…
Top 31 Andy Stanley Quotes (Inspiring Pastor and Author) Be inspired by these Christian quotes from Andy Stanley. May they encourage you and remind you of God's blessings in your life. Andy Stanley (May 16, 1958), an inspiring Pastor…
Top 34 Vincent Van Gogh Quotes about Life, Love, and Art Vincent Willem van Gogh (30 March 185329 July 1890) was a Dutch post-Impressionist painter whose work, notable for its rough beauty, emotional honesty and bold color, had a far-reaching influence…
Top 20 Wilferd Peterson Quotes Born in Whitehall, Michigan, Mr. Wilferd Peterson (August 21, 1900 - June 2, 1995) as author whose work appeared in This Week magazine and other magazines. He wrote many books…
Top 10 Brian Hardin Quotes Brian Hardin’s life is one which includes many paths. From working in the music industry to becoming an ordained Anglican minister. He is the founder of the Daily Audio Bible,…
Top 50+ Dr. David Jeremiah Quotes Dr. David Jeremiah, is the Pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church located El Cajon, California, San Diego County. He is also the founder of Turning Point Radio and Television Ministries.…
58 Famous George Washington Quotes on Freedom,… George Washington ( – , 1799) was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, serving as the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. We…
Top 64 Rick Warren Quotes Rick Warren (Born: January 28, 1954), a Christian Pastor and author. He founded the Saddleback Church, located in Lake Forest, California and it is one of the largest churches in…
180 Victor Hugo Quotes about Idea, Love, and Music Victor Marie Hugo was a poet, novelist, and dramatist of the Romantic movement. He is considered one of the greatest and best known French writers. His work touches upon most…
Why Revival Tarries Thought-provoking truths are found in this book. Leonard Ravenhill wrote this book orginally in 1959 but his words have just as much relevance today. His passion for the church, for…
Top 56 Inspirational Buddha Quotes about Peace, and… Gautama Buddha or Siddhārtha Gautama Buddha (Sanskrit: ; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent. Enjoy the best Buddha quotes the invisible forces of life, peace, and…
127 Inspiring Henry David Thoreau Quotes Henry David Thoreau (July 12, 1817 – May 6, 1862) was an American author, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, historian, and leading transcendentalist. His quotes are…
Next Door Savior A great book about the life of Jesus Christ. The author, Max Lucado, is able to write in such a wonderful way -it is like he is sitting having a…
51 Warren Buffett Quotes on Investing, Life, and Success Born in Nebraska in 1930, Warren Buffett demonstrated keen business abilities at a young age. He formed Buffett Partnership Ltd. in 1956, and by 1965 he had assumed control of…
44 Great John Locke Quotes on Government, Life, and… John Locke, widely known as the Father of Classical Liberalism, was an English philosopher and physician regarded as one of the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers. His work had a…
Top 88 Abraham Lincoln Quotes on Life, Democracy,… Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. Lincoln successfully led…
Top 12 Leonard Ravenhill Quotes (Pastor and Author) Be inspired by theses quotes by Leonard Ravenhill. We must learn to pray, and we must pray to learn to pray. Leonard Ravenhill (1907 - 1994) was a Pastor and…
Top 68 Sigmund Freud Quotes (That Will Change Your Life) Sigmund Freud (May 6, 1856, to Sept. 23, 1939) founded psychoanalysis, a treatment technique that involves the patient talking to a psychoanalyst. Though Sigmund Freud quotes and ideas were controversial,…
89 Great Lao Tzu Quotes on Life, Love, and Happiness In search of infinite wisdom? Allow these Lao Tzu quotes to open your mind. Lao Tzu was an ancient philosopher, and is regarded as the founder of Taoism and author of…
TOP 64 Albert Camus Quotes Which are your favorite Albert Camus quotes? Albert Camus, (born November 7, 1913, Mondovi, Algeria—died January 4, 1960, near Sens, France), French novelist, essayist, and playwright, best known for such…
Top 28 Most Inspiring Bruce Lee Quotes to Inspire… Bruce Lee was a famous martial artist, movie star and cultural icon but his philosophy has caught fire around the world with a new generation seeking meaning and consciousness. He…
73 Best Napoleon Hill Quotes to Inspire Success in… Napoleon Hill (October 26, 1883 – November 8, 1970) was an American author in the area of the new thought movement who was one of the earliest producers of the…
Have A Great Day Quotes Norman Vincent Peale's book, Have a Great Day, provides a thought for each day of the year. Short but inspiring thoughts. A book we would recomend if you only have…
TOP 42 Albert Schweitzer Quotes Which are your favorite Albert Schweitzer quotes? Albert Schweitzer, (born Jan. 14, 1875, Kaysersberg, Upper Alsace, Ger. [now in France]—died Sept. 4, 1965, Lambaréné, Gabon), Alsatian-German theologian, philosopher, organist, and…
55 Ayn Rand Quotes on Life, Individual Rights, and… Author Ayn Rand wrote the best-selling books 'The Fountainhead' and 'Atlas Shrugged,' and promoted the philosophy of Objectivism. Born in Russia in 1905, Ayn Rand moved to the United States…