Platon Quotes

Powerful Platon for Daily Growth

About Platon

Plato (428/427 BC – 348/347 BC), born in Athens as Aristocles, is one of the most influential philosophers in Western philosophy. Known as Platon, a nickname given due to his broad shoulders, he founded the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Plato's intellectual journey began under the tutelage of Socrates, whose spirit and wisdom left a lasting impact on him. Following Socrates' execution, Plato traveled extensively throughout Greece and Egypt, absorbing diverse cultural and philosophical influences. These experiences greatly enriched his thought and are reflected in his works. Plato's major works include "Apology," "Crito," "Phaedrus," and the Socratic dialogues, but he is arguably best known for his seven-volume work, "The Republic." This seminal text delves into political theory, justice, the ideal state, and the immortality of the soul. Other key works include "Symposium," discussing love and beauty, and "Timaeus," which presents a cosmology based on mathematical forms. Plato's philosophical system, known as Platonism, posits that there exist eternal, perfect Forms or Ideas, of which the material world is but an imperfect imitation. This dualistic view of reality has had profound influence on Western thought, particularly in fields such as metaphysics, epistemology, and aesthetics. Plato's legacy transcends time, with his ideas continuing to shape and challenge contemporary philosophical discourse. His timeless works serve as a testament to the enduring power of reason and intellectual curiosity.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The first and greatest victory is to conquer self."

Plato's quote, "The first and greatest victory is to conquer self," emphasizes the importance of personal mastery and self-discipline as a foundational step towards achieving greater success in life. To conquer oneself implies overcoming internal struggles, negative emotions, and weaknesses, thereby establishing control over one's thoughts, actions, and decisions. By doing so, an individual is better equipped to navigate the external challenges they may encounter, ultimately leading to personal growth, fulfillment, and success in their endeavors.

"Know thyself."

The quote "Know thyself" by Plato encourages self-awareness and understanding, emphasizing the importance of introspection in personal growth and wisdom. It suggests that having a deep, honest knowledge of one's own character, motivations, strengths, weaknesses, and values is essential for living a meaningful and fulfilling life. By acknowledging our inner selves, we can make informed decisions, form realistic expectations, and strive for self-improvement, ultimately leading to personal happiness and success.

"Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder."

This quote suggests that beauty is subjective, meaning it's based on personal taste or opinion rather than any objective standard. It emphasizes that what one person finds beautiful, another might not, thus reinforcing the idea that beauty lies in the perspective of the individual beholder.

"Ideas are like clusters of flowers of many colors, and he who would gather them must not pull up the roots but strip off the petals."

The quote suggests that ideas, like clusters of colorful flowers, have underlying concepts or principles (roots) that should not be disturbed or destroyed. Instead, one should carefully pick (gather) only the surface manifestations or expressions (petals) of these ideas, without disrupting their deeper meaning or essence. This is a metaphorical way of emphasizing the importance of understanding and respecting the inherent nature of ideas while engaging with them.

"The highest form of wisdom is kindness."

This quote by Plato emphasizes that true wisdom, or deep understanding, extends beyond intellectual knowledge to include compassion and kindness towards others. In essence, he suggests that the most profound type of wisdom lies not only in knowing but also in acting with empathy and benevolence. It's a reminder that being wise means going beyond just knowing right from wrong, and actually demonstrating goodwill and care in our interactions with others.

I do have my own personal convictions and values, and I live by those. But as an artist, as a portrait photographer, my job is to tell the truth and to capture someone's spirit on a certain day. And it's never the whole truth; it's the truth I experience in a very intense and intimate fashion.

- Platon

Artist, Own, Very, My Own

Mugabe had a very strange quality about him. He was dapper. He had the strangest skin - it looks very shiny, but it's not oily. It's stretched very finely over his flesh. His eyes have layers of cyan crystals in them. It was a quiet, dark moment when I took his picture.

- Platon

Skin, Very, About, Crystals

My father is an architect, so I often think like a designer or an architect. I remember when I was admiring buildings, I would look up at them and see this perspective and this awesome power of the monument in front of me.

- Platon

I Remember, Remember When, Admiring

I never think about a shoot before I do it. Because there's no formula for people. What I try to do is to strip everything away rather than go in with preconceived notions. If I do that, I might miss a gem or a jewel that the person is offering me.

- Platon

Away, Rather, Before, Preconceived

I'm not a politician or a scholar or political historian. I'm just a photographer who's trying to capture a spirit. It's not an intellectual process; it's an intuitive process.

- Platon

Process, Spirit, Politician, Scholar

I've been one of the image-makers who created this concept of perfection. I've done a thousand magazine covers where I'm celebrating Hollywood, glamorous people. Which is all good. It's all entertainment.

- Platon

Hollywood, Been, Which, Perfection

It's very intimidating to be photographed, but if I kneel down and chat with you, so you're looking down at me, it makes you feel less threatened.

- Platon

Very, Makes, Photographed, Chat

Perhaps the most important people that I should photograph are the people who don't have a voice.

- Platon

Voice, The Most Important, Important People

I'm a portrait photographer that's used to shooting celebrities, and I usually need time and all kinds of lights and a studio to set up my shots.

- Platon

Need, Studio, Set, Lights

I always wanted to be the underdog. For me, as a portrait photographer, it's the kiss of death to become well known. I did my best work when no one knew who I was. People weren't threatened by me because they didn't think I was a big deal.

- Platon

Death, Big, Deal, Best Work

I've always had a healthy disregard for authority - it allows me to do my job as a portrait photographer and not as someone who is playing the power game.

- Platon

Game, Always, Disregard, Portrait

Photography can be a volatile situation. It can be very potent.

- Platon

Photography, Very, Potent, Volatile

I am not a photojournalist and certainly not used to the Jason Bourne type stuff that some photographers have to deal with.

- Platon

Some, Deal, Certainly, Jason

People are at their best when they can be natural. And that's the hardest thing as a photographer.

- Platon

Natural, Hardest, Hardest Thing

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