Quote #74

The fear of death is indeed the pretense of wisdom, and not real wisdom, being a pretense of knowing the unknown . . . and no one knows whether death which men in their fear apprehend to be the greatest evil, may not be the greatest good. . . .

More from Socrates

  1. Such as thy words are, such will thy affections be esteemed; and such will thy deeds be as thy affections and such thy life as thy deeds.
  2. The fewer our wants, the nearer we resemble the gods.
  3. See one promontory, one mountain, one sea, one river and see all.
  4. The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be.
  5. Remember what is unbecoming to do is also unbecoming to speak of.
  6. The nearest way to glory is to strive to be what you wish to be thought to be.
  7. Remember that there is nothing stable in human affairs; therefore avoid undue elation in prosperity, or undue depression in adversity.
  8. The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.

All Socrates quotes