Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow... even if that someone is yourself!
PlatoRead
In particular I may mention Sophocles the poet, who was once asked in my presence, How do you feel about love, Sophocles? are you still capable of it? to which he replied, Hush! if you please: to my great delight I have escaped from it, and feel as if I had escaped from a frantic and savage master. I thought then, as I do now, that he spoke wisely. For unquestionably old age brings us profound repose and freedom from this and other passions.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Sophocles expresses relief in escaping the turmoil of love in old age, highlighting the peace that comes with maturity.
In this quote, Plato recounts a moment when Sophocles reflects on love and aging. He suggests that love, often viewed as a beautiful passion, can also be a chaotic and overwhelming force, akin to a 'frantic and savage master.' With old age, Sophocles feels a sense of freedom and tranquillity, emphasizing that the wisdom and calm that come with maturity allow one to transcend the tumultuous nature of romantic emotions.
Themes
LoveWisdomAgeFreedomPeace
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on aging at a senior center, this quote can remind participants of the peace that comes with maturity.
More from Plato
All quotes →Not 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
An example I often use to illustrate the reality of vanity, is this: look at the peacock; it's beautiful if you look at it from the front. But if you look at it from behind, you discover the truth... Whoever gives in to such self-absorbed vanity has huge misery hiding inside them.
Pope FrancisRead
If you deny people their own voice, you'll have no idea of who they were.
Alice WalkerRead
A coward judges all he sees by what he is.
Stephen KingRead
Breath is the vehicle of consciousness and so, by its slow measured observation and distribution, we learn to tug our attention away from external desires toward a judicious, intelligent awareness.
B.K.S. IyengarRead
Meditation is the only way to overcome fear. There is no other way. Why does meditation help us overcome fear? In meditation we identify ourselves with the vast, with the Absolute. When we are afraid of someone or something, it is because we do not feel that particular person or thing is a part of us. When we have established conscious oneness with the Absolute, with the Infinite Vast, the everything there is part of us. And how can we be afraid of ourselves?
Sri ChinmoyRead
Reality can be beaten with enough imagination.
Mark TwainRead