Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow... even if that someone is yourself!
PlatoRead
O youth or young man, who fancy that you are neglected by the gods, know that if you become worse, you shall go to worse souls, or if better to the better... In every succession of life and death, you will do and suffer what like may fitly suffer at the hands of like. This is the justice of heaven.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes that one's fate and experiences are shaped by one's own character and choices.
Plato highlights the idea that individuals attract experiences and relationships that reflect their own virtues or vices. The essence of justice, as explained here, is that people will encounter others who resonate with their own qualities—good or bad—thus life presents a consistent balance according to one's own moral standing.
Themes
FateJusticeCharacterChoicesConsequences
In practice
Example use cases
A motivational speaker might use this quote to encourage people to cultivate their character.
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.
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