[ExI] Plato

[BillK]

On Tue, 22 Aug 2023 at 16:00, William Flynn Wallace via extropy-chat
<extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:
>
> I esp.like #2 ad #5   bill w
>
> 1. “Never discourage anyone...who continually makes progress, no matter how slow.”
> 2. “Those who tell the stories rule society.”
> 3. “Education is teaching our children to desire the right things.”
> 4. “Courage is knowing what not to fear.”
> 5. “There are three classes of men; lovers of wisdom, lovers of honor, and lovers of gain.”
> 6. “The beginning is the most important part of the work.”
> 7. “The greatest wealth is to live content with little.”
> 8. “Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others.”
> 9. “Man is a being in search of meaning.”
> 10. “The first and best victory is to conquer self”
> _______________________________________________


You have to be very careful when a 'wise saying' on the internet is
attributed to someone famous or an ancient philosopher.
If the actual source is not referenced, then they probably never said it.
You might be surprised at the huge quantity of wise sayings that
Einstein is supposed to have said.

None of these Plato sayings can be found in his writings, though most
sort of could agree with his philosophy.
I asked a search engine to do the hard work of investigation for me.

1. “Never discourage anyone...who continually makes progress, no
matter how slow.”
This quote is often attributed to Plato, but there is no direct
evidence that he actually said or wrote these exact words. However,
the sentiment expressed in the quote aligns with Plato's philosophy of
education and personal growth. Plato believed in the importance of
nurturing and encouraging individuals who strive for progress,
regardless of the pace at which they achieve it.

2. “Those who tell the stories rule society.”
This quote is not found in any of Plato's known works. It is commonly
misattributed to him, but there is no evidence to suggest that he ever
made this statement. The idea behind the quote, however, resonates
with Plato's belief in the power of storytelling and rhetoric in
shaping society.

3. “Education is teaching our children to desire the right things.”
There is no evidence that Plato explicitly made this statement.
However, it reflects his views on education as portrayed in his
dialogues, particularly in "The Republic." Plato emphasized the
importance of cultivating virtue and knowledge in individuals through
education, aiming to guide them towards desiring what is morally right
and just.

4. “Courage is knowing what not to fear.”
This quote is often attributed to Plato, specifically from his
dialogue "Laches." However, there is no direct evidence that he used
these exact words. Nonetheless, the concept of courage and its
relation to fear was a recurring theme in Plato's works, particularly
in "The Republic" and "Protagoras."

5. “There are three classes of men; lovers of wisdom, lovers of honor,
and lovers of gain.”
This quote does not appear in any of Plato's known writings. While it
captures a tripartite division of individuals based on their values,
it cannot be attributed directly to Plato.

6. “The beginning is the most important part of the work.”
This quote does not originate from Plato's writings. However, it
aligns with his philosophical ideas on the importance of laying a
solid foundation and starting well in various endeavors.

7. “The greatest wealth is to live content with little.”
This quote is not found in Plato's works. However, it reflects a Stoic
philosophy that emphasizes the value of inner contentment and
detachment from material possessions, which can be seen as compatible
with some aspects of Plato's teachings.

8. “Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others.”
There is no direct evidence that Plato made this statement. However,
the sentiment expressed aligns with his ethical philosophy,
particularly his belief in the inherent value of virtuous actions and
their potential to influence others positively.

9. “Man is a being in search of meaning.”
This quote is not attributed to Plato. It reflects a broader
existential perspective on the human condition rather than a specific
aspect of Plato's philosophy.

10. “The first and best victory is to conquer self.”
This quote is not found in Plato's writings. However, it encapsulates
a Stoic idea of self-mastery and aligns with Plato's emphasis on
self-improvement and the pursuit of wisdom.
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BillK