1001Philosophers

Socrates Quotes on Virtue

Socrates was a classical Athenian philosopher credited as a founder of Western philosophy. This page collects quotes attributed to Socrates on the topic of virtue, drawn from across the philosopher's works.

Quotes

  • Attributed to Socrates:

    “There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance.”

  • Attributed to Socrates:

    “Be as you wish to seem.”

  • Attributed to Socrates:

    “He is richest who is content with the least, for content is the wealth of nature.”

  • Attributed to Socrates:

    “False words are not only evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil.”

  • Attributed to Socrates:

    “Be slow to fall into friendship, but when thou art in, continue firm and constant.”

  • Attributed to Socrates:

    “The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavour to be what you desire to appear.”