Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow... even if that someone is yourself!
PlatoRead
They assembled together and dedicated these as the first-fruits of their love to Apollo in his Delphic temple, inscribing there those maxims which are on every tongue- 'know thyselP and 'Nothing overmuch.'
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes self-knowledge and moderation as essential virtues.
In this quote, Plato highlights the importance of self-awareness and balance in life. 'Know thyself' encourages individuals to seek understanding of their own nature, strengths, and weaknesses, while 'Nothing overmuch' serves as a reminder to practice moderation in all things. Together, these maxims present a philosophical approach to living well, suggesting that true fulfillment comes from inner knowledge and a measured lifestyle.
Themes
Self-KnowledgeModerationWisdomPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can inspire discussions during philosophy classes.
More from Plato
All quotes →Not 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.
PlatoRead
...for the object of education is to teach us to love beauty.
PlatoRead
Pleasure is the greatest incentive to evil.
PlatoRead
Nothing in the affairs of men is worthy of great anxiety.
PlatoRead
Let parents bequeath to their children not riches, but the spirit of reverence.
PlatoRead
Similar quotes
In order to increase his pleasures, man has intentionally added to the number and pressure of his needs, which in their original state were not much more difficult to satisfy than those of the brute. Hence luxury in all its forms; delicate food, the use of tobacco and opium, spirituous liquors, fine clothes, and the thousand and one things that he considers necessary to his existence.
Arthur SchopenhauerRead
that which is eternal within the moment only becomes shallow if spread out in time.
Rabindranath TagoreRead
Better mad with the rest of the world than wise alone.
Baltasar GracianRead
We celebrate peace. Yet we pay no attention to the ways of curing aggression in human beings. And when one sees in psychoanalysis hostility disappearing as people conquer their fears, one wonders if the cure is not there.
Anais NinRead
To be true to one's own freedom is, in essence, to honor and respect the freedom of all others.
Dwight D. EisenhowerRead
I have long believed that there are fundamentally two forces or emotions that drive our decisions - love and fear. Love has its many manifestations: compassion, gratitude, kindness, and joy. Fear often manifests in cynicism, anger, jealousy, and anxiety. I worry that many of our communities are being driven by fear.
Vivek MurthyRead