Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow... even if that someone is yourself!
PlatoRead
For though a man should be a complete unbeliever in the being of gods; if he also has a native uprightness of temper, such persons will detest evil in men; their repugnance to wrong disinclines them to commit wrongful acts; they shun the unrighteous and are drawn to the upright.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Moral integrity is not dependent on belief in deities; it arises from an innate sense of right and wrong.
This quote by Plato illustrates the idea that a person's moral character and ethical behavior can exist independently of religious beliefs. It emphasizes that even those who may not believe in gods can possess a natural inclination towards goodness and virtue, leading them to abhor evil and seek righteousness, suggesting that morality is inherent in human nature.
Themes
MoralityUprightnessEthicsBeliefGoodnessRightWrong
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on ethics, this quote can exemplify the idea that people can be good without religious influence.
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
Religious phenomena are naturally arranged in two fundamental categories: beliefs and rites. The first are states of opinion, and consist in representations; the second are determined modes of action.
Emile DurkheimRead
Nobody can come and develop Africa on behalf of Africans.
Mo IbrahimRead
Racism cannot be separated from capitalism.
Angela DavisRead
The history of men's opposition to women's emancipation is more interesting perhaps than the story of that emancipation itself.
Virginia WoolfRead
For there are two possible reactions to social ostracism - either a man emerges determined to be better, purer, and kindlier or he goes bad, challenges the world and does even worse things. The last is by far the commonest reaction to stigma.
John SteinbeckRead
The subjects I wanted to write about - the mystery of the human soul, evil - didn't interest newspapers, and news reporting bored me.
Svetlana AlexievichRead