Plato Quotes

Virtue is the desire of things honourable and the power of attaining them.

I'd always found goodness more interesting then evil, though I was aware this wasn't the most general view. To my mind, it took more work and more courage to be good, an opinion continually reinforced by my own shortcomings.

An honest man here lies at rest, the friend of man the friend of truth the friend of age and guide of youth. Few hearts like his with virtue warmed, few heads with knowledge so informed. If there's another world, he lives in bliss. If there is none, he made the best of this.

Virtue is the truest liberty.

Virtue is more to man than either water or fire. I have seen men die from treading on water and fire, but I have never seen a man die from treading the course of virtue.

If I have one wish which is greater than another, it is, if I had the power, to make men do right; to make them stop their swearing, their lying, their deceiving, to stop trying to injure the innocent, and begin to be honest and upright in all their dealings with one another and honor the name of the Deity.

Man is born for uprightness. If a man lose his uprightness and yet live, his escape from death is mere good fortune.

Honor is like the eye, which cannot suffer the least impurity without damage. It is a precious stone, the price of which is lessened by a single flaw.

All the gold upon the earth and all the gold beneath it, does not compensate for lack of virtue.

I have seen men incapable of the sciences, but never any incapable of virtue.

A man may be very sincere in good principles, without having good practice.

If any man should conceive certain things as being really good, such as prudence, temperance, justice, fortitude, he would not after having first conceived these endure to listen to anything which should not be in harmony with what is really good.

Truth is congenial to man. Moral truth is then most consummate when, like beauty, it commends itself without argument. The righteous not only does right, but loves to do right.

A soul which is conversant with virtue is like an ever flowing source, for it is pure and tranquil and potable and sweet and communicative (social) and rich and harmless and free from mischief.

There is no greater wealth than Virtue,And no greater loss than to forget it.

There is a true glory and a true honor: the glory of duty done--the honor of the integrity of principle.

The paths of virtue, though seldom those of worldly greatness, are always those of pleasantness and peace.

If virtue precede us every step will be safe.

Be noble in every thought And in every deed!

The finest defense of character is correct action. Acquaint yourself with virtue, and you can expect proper treatment from those around you.

Always do what is right. It will gratify half of mankind and astound the other.

Content thyself to be obscurely good. When vice prevails, and impious men bear sway, the post of honoris a private station.

Nothing of character is really permanent but virtue and personal worth.

Temporary deviations from fundamental principles are always more or less dangerous. When the first pretext fails, those who become interested in prolonging the evil will rarely be at a loss for other pretexts.