The rulers of the state are the only persons who ought to have the privilege of lying, either at home or abroad; they may be allowed to lie for the good of the state.
PlatoRead
Language also encodes our past. We want to know who we are. To know who we are, we have to know who we used to be. Consequently, our literature, written in the past, anchors us in that past.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Language and literature connect us to our history and identity.
This quote emphasizes the significance of language and literature as vessels of historical knowledge and personal identity. To understand ourselves fully, we must explore our past, as our stories and the words we use shape our perception of who we are today. The connection to our history through literature anchors us, allowing us to better navigate our present and future.
Themes
LanguageLiteratureIdentityHistorySelf-Knowledge
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a speech about the importance of preserving cultural literature.
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