Socrates

Whom do I call educated? First, those who manage well the circumstances they encounter day by day. Next, those who are decent and honorable in their intercourse with all men, bearing easily and good naturedly what is offensive in others and being as agreeable and reasonable to their associates as is humanly possible to be… those who hold their pleasures always under control and are not ultimately overcome by their misfortunes… those who are not spoiled by their successes, who do not desert their true selves but hold their ground steadfastly as wise and sober — minded men.

Our prayers should be for blessings in general, for God knows best what is good for us.

My advice to you is get married: if you find a good wife you’ll be happy; if not, you’ll become a philosopher.

All men’s souls are immortal, but the souls of the righteous are immortal and divine.

They are not only idle who do nothing, but they are idle also who might be better employed.

As to marriage or celibacy, let a man take which course he will, he will be sure to repent.

The secret in education lies in respecting the student.

The sum of wisdom is that time is never lost that is devoted to work.

For what avail the plough or sail, Or land or life, if freedom fail?

A man’s library is a sort of harem.

Passion is the mob of the man, that commits a riot upon his reason.

You are a constant. Forever in my mind; forever in my heart. It seems that most matter how much I try I can’t get rid of you. You are a thorn, stuck in deep; painful to remove, and even when I do, still I’ll bleed and feel the soreness. It will take time, but it will heal. No matter the pain, I will still dare to pick roses.

I would not give half a guinea to live under one form of government rather than another. It is of no moment to the happiness of an individual.

Slavery it is that makes slavery; freedom, freedom. The slavery of women happened when the men were slaves of kings.

The comic and the tragic lie inseparably close, like light and shadow.

To be idle and to be poor have always been reproaches, and therefore every man endeavors with his utmost care to hide his poverty from others, and his idleness from himself.

It is never too late to be what you might have been.

Surviving is important. Thriving is elegant.

Merry Christmas! the man threatened.

You cannot be a hero without being a coward.

There are German songs which can make a stranger to the language cry.