Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow... even if that someone is yourself!
Philosophy is the highest music.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Philosophy elevates our understanding and appreciation of life, similar to the way music enriches our experiences.
In this quote, Plato suggests that philosophy, like music, has the power to move and inspire us. Just as music can evoke emotions and create harmony in our lives, philosophy deepens our understanding of the world, prompts reflection, and encourages a search for truth and meaning. Thus, the pursuit of wisdom parallels the enjoyment of beautiful melodies, elevating our existence to a higher state.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on the importance of critical thinking, I quoted Plato's philosophy is the highest music to emphasize the beauty of intellectual exploration.
More from Plato
All quotes βNot one of them who took up in his youth with this opinion that there are no gods ever continued until old age faithful to his conviction.
...for the object of education is to teach us to love beauty.
Pleasure is the greatest incentive to evil.
Nothing in the affairs of men is worthy of great anxiety.
Let parents bequeath to their children not riches, but the spirit of reverence.
Similar quotes
How can it be that mathematics, being after all a product of human thought which is independent of experience, is so admirably appropriate to the objects of reality?
True reflection presents me to myself not as idle and inaccessible subjectivity, but as identical with my presence in the world and to others, as I am now realizing it: I am all that I see, I am an intersubjective field, not despite my body and historical situation, but, on the contrary, by being this body and this situation, and through them, all the rest.
Most people, in fact, will not take the trouble in finding out the truth, but are much more inclined to accept the first story they hear.
A strong argument for the religion of Christ is this - that offences against Charity are about the only ones which men on their death-beds can be made - not to understand - but to feel - as crime.
Every Night and every Morn Some to Misery are born. Every Morn and every Night Some are born to Sweet Delight, Some are born to Endless Night.
A prayer that must have a cannon behind it better never be uttered. Forgiveness ought not to go in partnership with shot and shell. Love need not carry knives and revolvers.