PLATO: Dialogues of Plato - The Symposium

THE DIALOGUES OF PLATO - THE SYMPOSIUM

QUOTES FOR DISCUSSION

Concerning the things about which you ask to be informed I believe that I am not ill-prepared with an answer.

Plato, The Dialogues of Plato, Symposium, Great Books Volume 7, Pg 149

There was a time when I was running about the world, fancying myself to be well employed, but I was really a most wretched being, no better than you are now. I thought that I ought to do anything rather than be a philosopher.

Plato, The Dialogues of Plato, Symposium, Great Books Volume 7,Pg 149

… and I pity you who are my companions, because you think that you are doing something when in reality you are doing nothing. And I dare say that you pity me in return, whom you regard as an unhappy creature, and very probably you are right. But I certainly know of you what you only think of me – there is the difference.

Plato, The Dialogues of Plato, Symposium, Great Books Volume 7, pg. 150

How strange, said Agathon; then you must call him again, and keep calling him.

Let him along, said my informant; he has a way of stopping anywhere and losing himself without any reason. I believe that he will soon appear; do not therefore disturb him.

Plato, The Dialogues of Plato, Symposium, Great Books Volume 7, pg. 150

Socrates entered. Agathon, who was reclining alone at the end of the table, begged that he would take the place next to him; that “I may touch you,” he said, “and have the benefit of that wise thought which came into your mind in the portion, and is now in your possession; for I am certain that you would not have come away until you had found what you sought.”

How I wish, said Socrates, taking his place as he was desired, that wisdom could be infused by touch, out of the fuller into the emptier man, as water runs through wool out of a fuller cup into an emptier one; if that were so, how greatly should I value the privilege of reclining at you side! For you would have filled me full with a stream of wisdom plenteous and fair; whereas my own is of a very mean and questionable sort, not better than a dream. But yours is bright and full of promise, and was manifested forth in all the splendour of youth the day before yesterday, in the presence of more than thirty thousand Hellenes.

Plato, The Dialogues of Plato, Symposium, Great Books Volume 7, pg. 151

And greatly as the gods honour the virtue of love, still the return of love on the part of the beloved to the lover is more admired and valued and rewarded by them, for the lover is more divine; because he is inspired by God.

Plato, The Dialogues of Plato, Symposium, Great Books Volume 7, pg. 153

Take, for example, that which we are now doing, drinking, singing and talking – these actions are not in themselves either good or evil, but they turn out in this or that way according to the mode of performing them; and when well done they are good, and when wrongly done they are evil; and in like manner not every love, but only that which has a noble purpose, is noble and worthy of praise.

Plato, The Dialogues of Plato, Symposium, Great Books Volume 7, pg. 153