Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow... even if that someone is yourself!
PlatoRead
States are as the men, they grow out of human characters.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The character of a state is shaped by the character of its people.
In this quote, Plato suggests that the nature of a society or government is directly influenced by the moral and ethical character of the individuals that compose it. Just as a person's traits determine how they interact with the world, the collective character of a population dictates the laws, culture, and values of a state, emphasizing the importance of individual virtue in creating a just and effective political system.
Themes
StateCharacterSocietyMoralityPlato
In practice
Example use cases
In a political debate, to emphasize the importance of ethical leadership.
More from Plato
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...for the object of education is to teach us to love beauty.
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Pleasure is the greatest incentive to evil.
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Nothing in the affairs of men is worthy of great anxiety.
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Let parents bequeath to their children not riches, but the spirit of reverence.
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The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.
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