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Philosophy

The unexamined life is not worth living.

Philosophy

Socrates & Plato Quotes on Knowledge, Truth, and the Examined Life

Mar 5, 2026 · 6 min read

The unexamined life is not worth living. 2,500 years later, Socrates and Plato's questions still disturb comfortable certainties and open minds. Read these slowly.

The unexamined life is not worth living.

Socrates Apology (Plato)

I know that I know nothing.

Socrates Often attributed; from Platonic dialogues

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

Plato Plato's dialogues

Wonder is the beginning of wisdom.

Socrates Plato's Theaetetus

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.

Often attributed to Plato Philosophical tradition

Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.

Socrates / Plutarch On Education

At the touch of love, everyone becomes a poet.

Plato The Symposium

You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.

Plato Attributed

Opinion is the medium between knowledge and ignorance.

Plato The Republic

A good decision is based on knowledge and not on numbers.

Plato Plato's dialogues

Courage is knowing what not to fear.

Plato Laches

Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something.

Plato Attributed

The measure of a man is what he does with power.

Plato Attributed

One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.

Plato The Republic

False words are not only evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil.

Socrates Plato's Phaedo

Courage is knowing what not to fear.

Plato Laches

Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something.

Plato Attributed

The measure of a man is what he does with power.

Plato Attributed

One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.

Plato The Republic

False words are not only evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil.

Socrates Plato's Phaedo

Courage is knowing what not to fear.

Plato Laches

Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something.

Plato Attributed

The measure of a man is what he does with power.

Plato Attributed

One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.

Plato The Republic

False words are not only evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil.

Socrates Plato's Phaedo