3 Plato Quotes That Changed How I Think About Wisdom
What a man from 400 BCE has to teach us about being better people
Wisdom, ever since before King Solomon wrote about it, has been a sought after thing. It is something that’s hard to conceptualize, but often noticed when it isn’t present within a person or a system.
It is the culmination of all of the experience, judgement, and applicable knowledge that someone has gained in their life.
Plato, a man of particular wisdom, has several quotes that have personally helped me to grow to become a wiser person — and to see the areas in which I’m still lacking in.
#1: “Wealth, and poverty; one is the parent of luxury and indolence, and the other of meanness and viciousness, and both of discontent.”
While not particularly about the topic of wisdom, this quote points out the way of wisdom that Plato had and has in his writings. This is an idea commonly reflected in philosophy texts — you don’t want to be rich and useless, or poor and needy.
It’s the distinction that both of these people of the two stereotypes are discontent where I think the wisdom comes in. It takes a wise person to step back and to realize that no matter what part of a spectrum you fall on, you’re unhappy.
It’s this perspective and insight that points to Plato’s wisdom, and calls me to pay more attention to the depravity faced by both the poor and the rich.
#2: “Opinion is the medium between knowledge and ignorance.”
Wise people tend to be quiet when other much less qualified individuals try and state their opinion. And just like Plato says, it’s an awful medium between not knowing anything at all and actually grasping the situation. Opinion-providers think that they have something to offer, when really they’re off base.
Perhaps it would be better if they assumed they didn’t know anything at all — which I would say is the way of the wise. Is it not better to step back and see what else there is to learn in a situation?
#3: “The measure of a man is what he does with power.”
This is a viciously wise way to look at the way of man in this world. The real insight into their character, into their being, into their essence, is what they do in the face of power. Whether this be the commanding of resources, people, or the final call in a tough situation, these are where the true colors come out.
It’s the wise man who is ready for such a situation — humble enough to know when they’re wrong, but knowledgeable enough to actually help people out. If you think you’re wise, ask yourself how you handle situations of power.
You might find out that you’re lacking a bit more than you thought you were — because that was certainly my experience.
I hope these few snippets of wisdom were helpful, and that you can go and enjoy Plato and other ancient philosophers as much as I do. Best of luck!
