Plato

Plato, one of the greatest philosophers in history, left behind a wealth of knowledge and wisdom. Our page is dedicated to sharing his timeless quotes and teachings, which cover a wide range of topics, including love, politics, justice, and more. Join us on a journey to explore the mind of this legendary philosopher and gain insights that can help you navigate life’s challenges.

Where these lines come from

Partly true “Courage is knowing what not to fear.” A paraphrase of Republic book 4 (429 to 430), where courage is defined as a kind of preservation of the right belief about what is and is not to be feared. Jowett’s translation: “I mean that courage is a kind of salvation. Salvation of what? Of the opinion respecting things to be feared, what they are and of what nature, which the law implants through education.” His definition is about holding on to a true belief “under all circumstances”, which is more than simply knowing. Jowett translation

Several lines often credited to Plato are not his. They are covered in Socrates, Plato and Aristotle quotes, checked.

Each line was checked against the original text, or a named translation of it, in September 2026. How we check, and what we will not quote, is set out in our editorial standards.