Ancient Greek Quotes: Plato & Sappho
When it comes to great ancient Greek characters, Plato ranks high, as he has become a well-known classical Greek philosopher who learned under the guidance of Socrates and then in turn went on to teach Aristotle. It was Plato who would later lay the foundation down for the philosophical approach of the Western world.
Plato
Among other things, he was also skilled in mathematics and wrote a lot of philosophical dialogues. Plato also founded the Academy in Athens, which became the first institution of higher education in the western world. When studying the dialogues of Plato, you will find that he swayed towards human elements, where the most prominent example is seen in Phaedo, where Socrates dismisses his wife (Xanthippe) from the prison at the start of the dialogue and again in the end.
Since Plato is well known in history, it is only fair that he is honored with a nice collection of famous quotes. They include:
1) “Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity.”
2) “And now I depart hence condemned by you to suffer the penalty of death, and they, too, go their ways condemned by the truth to suffer the penalty of villainy and wrong; and I must abide by my award – let them abide by theirs.”
3) “A dog has the soul of a philosopher. “
4) “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.”
5) “The direction in which education starts an individual determines his future life.”
6) “Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back. Those who wish to sing always find a song. At the touch of a lover, everyone becomes a poet.”
7) “At the touch of love, everyone becomes a poet.”
8) “Philosophy is the highest music.”
9) “By education I mean that training in excellence from youth upward which makes a man passionately desire to be a perfect citizen, and teaches him to rule, and to obey, with justice. This is the only education which deserves the name.”
10) “Necessity, who is the mother of invention.”
11) “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.”
Sappho
The ancient Greek lyric poet named Sappho was born on an island called Lesbos. As one of the few females who have documented talents in the arts, the majority of her poetry has been lost. Throughout time, she was well known and gained quite a following. In antiquity, she was greatly admired. All that is left of her great talent is a few fragments of her work.
Sappho highlighted such skill that she was given the honor of becoming the “Tenth Muse” and listed as the best female poet associated with classical antiquity. Another accomplishment regarding Sappho is that she established a school for girls that prepared them in the art of music, singing, dancing, and poetry. Some of her quotes include:
1) “My fair comrades mine to you
My thought is ever true.”
2) “The stars around the lovely moon hide their shining forms when the full moon lights up the
earth.”
3) “I have a child, so fair
As golden flowers is she,
My Cleis, all my care,
I’d give her not away
For Lydia’s wide sway
Nor lands men long to see.”