The 80 most recognized phrases of Socrates

Socrates, as a central figure in ancient philosophy, shared a valuable set of ideas and phrases, although he did not write anything himself. Instead of direct works that could testify to his thoughts, His legacy endures thanks to the work of his disciples, like Plato and Xenophon. And from the stories of contemporaries who shared their time.

His reflections on life, morality, society and knowledge transcended the eras, leaving us statements that still resonate with profound relevance today. Here we will review the most recognized ones!

Socrates quotes: inspiration and wisdom

The most outstanding phrases of Socrates are pearls of wisdom that illuminate generations and that inspire those seeking a path of introspection and understanding in the intricate labyrinth of human existence. Next, let’s review 81 quotes from this famous thinker.

1. “I love seeing so many things that I don’t need to be happy”

This is one of the phrases said by Socrates when walking through the markets. And it is a reflection with a wide place in the life of any person.

2. “I only know that I know nothing”

Among the most outstanding phrases of Socrates we find this one. Although it is not found textually, He recognizes the limits of his knowledge as a starting point for wisdom in many particulars.

3. “Those who truly dedicate themselves to philosophy practice nothing other than dying and being dead”

With this, Socrates recognizes that Philosophy is a way of life for detachment from the earthly.

4. “If we are ever to know something with purity, we must get rid of the affairs of the body and contemplate only with the soul the things in themselves.”

This shows that for Socrates the pure essence of truth is found beyond the physical.

5. “Moderation is not letting oneself be excited by desires, but rather being indifferent and measured towards them”

For this Greek philosopher, self-discipline is the key to inner balance. Dare to practice it!

6. “The earth and the trees teach me nothing, but the men in the city”

Here it is highlights the value that Socrates placed on human interactions and everything they teach us about life.

7. “What we have learned by habit, the most beautiful things thanks to which we know how to live, we have learned everything through the word”

Language manifests itself as a condition of possibility of all knowledge. And it is something that the philosopher professed.

8. “Fearing death is nothing other than considering yourself wise if you are not”

Philosophy is a preparation for death and fearing its arrival is not appropriate for those who love wisdom.

9. “Is it not the most shameful ignorance to presume to know what one does not know?”

For Socrates, false wisdom is worse than the recognition of ignorance. It suggests not bragging about what we don’t know.

10. “I will never fear or avoid things that may be good for things that are surely evil”

For Socrates the search for good is inevitable. And the search for him should not cause fear.

11. “Riches do not give virtue, but virtue is what gives men riches and other goods.”

For the Athenian thinker, character and integrity are more valuable than any material treasure.

12. “Even if they acquit me or condemn me, I will never, ever act otherwise even if I have to suffer a thousand deaths”

These words were spoken by Socrates before his death sentence; they are one of his most relevant phrases.

13. “If anyone claims to have learned from me or heard from me in private anything other than what I say publicly to everyone, rest assured that this person is not telling the truth.”

Here the author shows that consistency and integrity is essential for credibility.

14. «A life without an exam is not a life»

In this phrase from Socrates It is evident that introspection and self-evaluation are essential for a full life.

15. «It is not difficult to avoid death; “The difficult thing is to avoid infamy, which runs faster.”

With this reflection it is made clear that integrity is more valuable than life itself.

16. “It is enough to realize that a man was not a lover of wisdom to see him get irritated when he is about to die”

Through this statement, Socrates lets us know that wisdom brings peace, even at the moment of death.

17. “He who eats with greater appetite has less need for delicacies”

Here the philosopher means that those who know how to appreciate the basic and simple often have less need for luxuries and excesses.

18. “Those who want fewer things are closer to the gods”

According to Socrates, Simplicity and moderation connect us with our spiritual essence. Excessive desire for material possessions can distance us from a deeper, more spiritual understanding of life.

19. “There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance”

Knowledge is the key to personal improvement and evolution, while ignorance can lead to errors and unnecessary suffering.

20. “Be of good cheer, for if our guests are sensible men, they will put up with us; and if they are not, we have nothing to worry about.”

If we surround ourselves with wise and understanding people, they will understand and respect our actions. If they are not, your opinion should not affect us.

21. “You will know that the divine is so great and of such a nature that it sees and hears everything at the same time, is present everywhere and takes care of everything”

This metaphysical statement alludes to the divine being omnipresent and omniscient, guiding and observing everything that occurs in the universe.

22. “False words are not only bad in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil”

Lying and deception are not only harmful in and of themselves, but they also corrupt our essence and character.

23. “He who has lived as a true philosopher has reason to be in good spirits when he is about to die, and after death he can hope to receive the greatest good in the next world.”

From the Socratic worldview, living a life of reflection and search for truth prepares the soul for a peaceful and promising transition to the afterlife.

24. “There is no greater evil that can be suffered than to hate reasonable discourse”

Rejecting logic and reasoning is a serious harm to the individual as it limits their ability to understand and learn.

25. «The jewels of the soul are temperance, and justice, and courage, and nobility, and truth; With these attires she is prepared to undertake her journey to the world below, when her time comes. »

The internal virtues are the true riches that we must cultivate, since they guide us in life and prepare our soul for the afterlife.

26. «Those who care about their soul and do not limit themselves to living according to the fashions of the body, say goodbye to all this; “They will not walk in the paths of the blind.”

The true essence of being resides in the soul. And those who nurture and care for it see beyond the superficial, earthly distractions.

27. «The soul is in the very likeness of the divine, and immortal, and intelligible, and uniform, and indissoluble, and immutable; and the body is in the very likeness of the human, and mortal, and unintelligible, and multiform, and dissoluble, and mutable.

While The soul reflects the eternal, divine and constant, the body represents the temporal, earthly and changing. The duality between the two highlights the importance of focusing on nourishing the soul.

28. “If the soul existed before being born, and in coming to life and being born it can only be born from death and die, must it not continue to exist after death, since it must be born again?”

This is one of Socrates’ phrases in which he reflects on the eternity of the soul and suggests the idea of ​​reincarnation or a continuous cycle of existence beyond earthly life.

29. “I trust in the belief that there really is such a thing as living again, and that the living arise from the dead, and that the souls of the dead exist, and that good souls have a better share than bad ones.”

Faith in life after death and reward or punishment according to actions performed in life is central to this reflection.

30. “Calmness, control and disdain of the passions, which many even call temperance, is not a quality that only belongs to those who despise the body and live in philosophy?”

Moderation and control over passions are virtues of those who see beyond corporeal desires and dedicate themselves to philosophical search.

31. «Will he who is a true lover of wisdom, and is persuaded in the same way that only in the world below can he enjoy it worthily, will he continue to lament death? Will he not depart with joy? He surely he will »

Those who fear death are often attached to the material and temporal, in contrast to those who seek wisdom and understand death as a transition.

32. «Wars are caused by the love of money, and money has to be acquired for the good and in service of the body; and as a consequence of all these things, the time that should be dedicated to philosophy is lost.

Earthly distractions and conflicts, such as wars fueled by greed, divert attention from the true pursuit of knowledge and wisdom.

33. «The body is an inexhaustible source of problems for us due to the mere need for food; and it is also prone to diseases that reach us and prevent us from searching for the truth.”

The body, with its needs and passions, often acts as a barrier to true understanding and the search for truth.

34. «The true disciple of philosophy is susceptible to being misunderstood by other men; They do not perceive that he always pursues death and dying »

Those dedicated to philosophy seek truth, often leading them to meditate on death and the nature of being, which may be incomprehensible to others.

35. “I am very willing to be saddened by death, if I were not persuaded that I am going with other gods who are wise and good and with deceased men who are better than those I leave behind.”

Confidence in an afterlife full of wisdom and goodness reduces the fear and sadness associated with death.

36. “If one of your possessions, an ox or a donkey, for example, takes the liberty of straying from the path when you have not made it known that you wish it to die, would you not be angry with it and punish it if could you? Then there may be reason in saying that a man should wait and not take his life until God summons him.”

Life is precious and should not be taken lightly. Just as we value and care for our possessions, we should respect the natural cycle of life and death.

37. «No evil can happen to a good man, neither in life nor after death. Therefore I am not angry with my accusers nor with my condemners; “They have not done me any harm, although none of them wanted to do me any good.”

A person’s inner goodness protects him from adversity, both in life and in…