Regard as your most faithful friends, not those who praise everything you say or do, but those who criticize your mistakes.
IsocratesRead
So far has Athens left the rest of mankind behind in thought and expression that her pupils have become the teachers of the world, and she has made the name of Hellas distinctive no longer of race but of intellect, and the title of Hellene a badge of education rather than of common descent.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Athens has influenced the world significantly through its intellectual contributions, turning its people into teachers of knowledge.
Isocrates emphasizes the profound impact of Athens on global thought and expression. He suggests that the city has transcended its geographical boundaries, elevating the title of 'Hellenes' to symbolize education and intellectual achievement rather than mere cultural or racial identity. This indicates the importance of ideas and learning in defining a society's legacy and influence.
Themes
AthensEducationThoughtIntellectLegacy
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech on the importance of higher education, one could cite this quote to highlight the transformative role of education.
More from Isocrates
All quotes →But I marvel when I observe these men setting themselves up as instructors of youth who cannot see that they are applying the analogy of an art with hard and fast rules to a creative process
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Spend your leisure time in cultivating an ear attentive to discourse, for in this way you will find that you learn with ease what others have found out with difficulty.
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And let no one suppose that I claim that just living can be taught for, in a word, I hold that there does not exist an art of the kind which can implant sobriety and justice into depraved natures. Nevertheless, I do think that the study of political discourse can help more than any other thing to stimulate and form such qualities of character
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It is more important to know where you are going than to get there quickly. Do not mistake activity for achievement. Remember that there is nothing stable in human affairs, therefore avoid undue elation in prosperity or undue depression in adversity.
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Of all our possessions, wisdom alone is immortal.
IsocratesRead
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