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He is unworthy of the name of man who is ignorant of the fact that the diagonal of a square is incommensurable with its side.
Plato
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote emphasizes the importance of knowledge and awareness in understanding fundamental mathematical truths.

Plato’s assertion highlights that true humanity is linked to knowledge; being unaware of basic geometric principles, like the incommensurability of a square's diagonal and its side, denotes ignorance. It suggests that a deep understanding of the world around us is essential to our existence as rational beings.

Themes

KnowledgeIgnoranceGeometryTruthPhilosophy

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about education reform, one could quote this to emphasize the need for critical thinking.

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