Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow... even if that someone is yourself!
PlatoRead
To conquer oneself is the best and noblest victory; to be vanquished by one's own nature is the worst and most ignoble defeat.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Mastering oneself is the highest achievement, while failing to control our nature leads to the greatest failure.
This quote by Plato emphasizes the importance of self-mastery over external victories. True success lies in overcoming our internal challenges and impulses, as being defeated by our own nature reflects a lack of discipline and virtue, while conquering ourselves is a mark of nobility and strength.
Themes
Self-MasteryVictorySelf-ControlPhilosophyVirtue
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech discussing self-improvement and personal growth.
More from Plato
All quotes βNot one of them who took up in his youth with this opinion that there are no gods ever continued until old age faithful to his conviction.
PlatoRead
...for the object of education is to teach us to love beauty.
PlatoRead
Pleasure is the greatest incentive to evil.
PlatoRead
Nothing in the affairs of men is worthy of great anxiety.
PlatoRead
Let parents bequeath to their children not riches, but the spirit of reverence.
PlatoRead
Similar quotes
I almost do not exist now and I know it; God knows what lives in me in place of me.
Fyodor DostoevskyRead
How dreadful it is when the right judge judges wrong!
SophoclesRead
Because we cannot accept the truth of transience, we suffer.
Shunryu SuzukiRead
Everyone is tearing each other apart in the name of their personal god. And the irony is, by definition, they're probably worshiping the same god.
Ridley ScottRead
Before birth; yes, what time was it then? A time like now, and when they were dead, it would be still like now: these trees, that sky, this earth, those acorn seeds, sun and wind, all the same, while they, with dust-turned hearts, change only.
Truman CapoteRead
Every area of trouble gives out a ray of hope; and the one unchangeable certainty is that nothing is certain or unchangeable.
John F. KennedyRead