Philosophical literature

Explore 632 quotes from the following genre: Philosophical literature

In my lifetime I have seen Frenchmen, Italians, Russians, etc.; thanks to Montesquieu, I even know that one can be Persian. But as for man, I declare that I have never in my life met him; if he exists, he exists unknown to me.

Joseph de Maistre

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Topic

The universal vs. the particular Nature of man

Author

Joseph de Maistre

Source

Considerations on France

Genre

Philosophical literature Political literature

Language

French

Time

1796 1790s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Maistre, Joseph. "De l'influence divine dans les constitutions politiques [On Divine Influence in Political Constitutions]." Considérations sur la France [Considerations on France]. Paris, 1796.

Current Citation

Maistre, Joseph. "On Divine Influence in Political Constitutions." Considerations on France, edited by Richard A. Lebrun. Cambridge University Press, 1995.

The soul of man is immortal and imperishable.

Socrates

Quoted in Republic, by Plato

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Topic

The soul

Speaker

Socrates

Author

Plato

Source

Republic

Medium

Philosophical dialogue Dialogue

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

375 BC 370s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Socrates. Quoted in Πολιτεία [Republic], written by Plato. c. 375 BCE.

Current Citation

Socrates. Quoted in Republic, written by Plato, translated by Desmond Lee. Penguin Classics, 2007.

Have no friends who are not of equal (moral) caliber.

Confucius

Quoted in Analects

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Topic

Equality in friendship Equality Friendship

Speaker

Confucius

Source

Analects

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Advice

Language

Chinese

Time

221 BC 220s BC 3rd century BC

Authentication Score 0

Original Citation

Confucius. 論語 [The Analects]. c. 479 BCE.

Current Citation

Confucius. The Analects, edited and translated by Annping Chin. Penguin Classics, 2014.

He who knows does not speak.
He who speaks does not know.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching

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Topic

Tact and discretion Talking Ignorance

Author

Lao Tzu

Source

Tao Te Ching

Genre

Philosophical literature Religious literature

Language

Chinese

Time

400 BC 400s BC 5th century BC

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. 道德經 [Tao Te Ching]. c. 400 BC, ch. 56.

Current Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. "The Natural Way of Lao Tzu." A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, translated by Wing-Tsit Chan. Princeton University Press, 1969, ch. 56.

But already it is time to depart, for me to die, for you to go on living; which of us takes the better course, is not known to anyone except God.

Socrates

Quoted in Apology, by Plato

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Topic

Mystery of death The afterlife

Speaker

Socrates

Author

Plato

Source

Apology

Medium

Courtroom speech Speech

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

399 BC 390s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Plato. Ἀπολογία Σωκράτους [Apology of Socrates]. Speech of legal self-defence which Socrates spoke at his trial for impiety and corruption. 399 BC, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

Plato. "Apology." Plato: Euthyphro; Apology; Crito; Phaedo, translated by Christopher Emlyn-Jones and William Preddy. Harvard University Press, 2017.

When there is an income tax, the just man will pay more and the unjust less on the same amount of income.

Socrates

Quoted in Republic, by Plato

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Topic

Taxes

Speaker

Socrates

Author

Plato

Source

Republic

Medium

Philosophical dialogue Dialogue

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

375 BC 370s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Socrates. Quoted in Πολιτεία [Republic], written by Plato. c. 375 BCE.

Current Citation

Socrates. Quoted in Republic, written by Plato, translated by Desmond Lee. Penguin Classics, 2007.

The man of virtue makes the difficulty to be overcome his first business, and success only a subsequent consideration.

Confucius

Quoted in Analects

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Topic

Overcoming obstacles Success

Speaker

Confucius

Source

Analects

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Chinese

Time

221 BC 220s BC 3rd century BC

Authentication Score 0

Original Citation

Confucius. 論語 [The Analects]. c. 479 BCE.

Current Citation

Confucius. The Analects, edited and translated by Annping Chin. Penguin Classics, 2014.

Must not all things at the last be swallowed up in death?

Socrates

Quoted in Phaedo, by Plato

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Topic

Inevitability of death

Speaker

Socrates

Author

Plato

Source

Phaedo

Medium

Philosophical dialogue Dialogue

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Question

Language

Greek

Time

360 BC 360s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Socrates. Quoted in Φαίδων [Phaedo], written by Plato. c. 360 BC.

Current Citation

Socrates. Quoted in "Phaedo." Plato: Five Dialogues: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo, written by Plato, translated by G. M. A. Grube and John M. Cooper. Hackett Publishing, 2002.

If we are not yet able to serve man, how can we serve spiritual beings?... If we do not yet know about life how can we know about death?

Confucius

Quoted in Analects

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Topic

Wisdom

Speaker

Confucius

Source

Analects

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Question

Language

Chinese

Time

221 BC 220s BC 3rd century BC

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Confucius. 論語 [The Analects]. c. 479 BCE.

Current Citation

Confucius. The Analects, edited and translated by Annping Chin. Penguin Classics, 2014.

He who will not worry about what is far off will soon find something worse than worry close at hand.

Confucius

Quoted in Analects

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Topic

Worry

Speaker

Confucius

Source

Analects

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Chinese

Time

221 BC 220s BC 3rd century BC

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Confucius. 論語 [The Analects]. c. 479 BCE.

Current Citation

Confucius. The Analects, edited and translated by Annping Chin. Penguin Classics, 2014.

Let people hold on to these:
Manifest plainness,
Embrace simplicity,
Reduce selfishness,
Have few desires.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching

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Topic

Simplicity Doing less Letting go

Author

Lao Tzu

Source

Tao Te Ching

Genre

Philosophical literature Religious literature

Statement Type

Advice

Language

Chinese

Time

400 BC 400s BC 5th century BC

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. 道德經 [Tao Te Ching]. c. 400 BC, ch. 19.

Current Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. "The Natural Way of Lao Tzu." A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, translated by Wing-Tsit Chan. Princeton University Press, 1969, ch. 19.

The superior man understands righteousness; the inferior man understands profit.

Confucius

Quoted in Analects

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Topic

Doing the right thing Righteousness Venality

Speaker

Confucius

Source

Analects

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Chinese

Time

221 BC 220s BC 3rd century BC

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Confucius. 論語 [The Analects]. c. 479 BCE.

Current Citation

Confucius. The Analects, edited and translated by Annping Chin. Penguin Classics, 2014.

Does Heaven say anything? The four seasons run their course and all things are produced. Does Heaven say anything?

Confucius

Quoted in Analects

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Topic

God and man Seasons Nature

Speaker

Confucius

Source

Analects

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Question

Language

Chinese

Time

221 BC 220s BC 3rd century BC

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Confucius. 論語 [The Analects]. c. 479 BCE.

Current Citation

Confucius. The Analects, edited and translated by Annping Chin. Penguin Classics, 2014.

In the presence of a good man, think all the time how you may learn to equal him. In the presence of a bad man, turn your gaze within.

Confucius

Quoted in Analects

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Topic

Positive influences Negative influences Self-improvement

Speaker

Confucius

Source

Analects

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Advice

Language

Chinese

Time

221 BC 220s BC 3rd century BC

Authentication Score 0

Original Citation

Confucius. 論語 [The Analects]. c. 479 BCE.

Current Citation

Confucius. The Analects, edited and translated by Annping Chin. Penguin Classics, 2014.

What is the prime of life? May it not be defined as a period of about twenty years in a woman's life, and thirty in a man's?

Socrates

Quoted in Republic, by Plato

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Topic

Prime of life Stages of life Life

Speaker

Socrates

Author

Plato

Source

Republic

Medium

Philosophical dialogue Dialogue

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

375 BC 370s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Socrates. Quoted in Πολιτεία [Republic], written by Plato. c. 375 BCE.

Current Citation

Socrates. Quoted in Republic, written by Plato, translated by Desmond Lee. Penguin Classics, 2007.

Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear?

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching

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Topic

Clearing one's mind Clarity Stillness Patience

Author

Lao Tzu

Source

Tao Te Ching

Genre

Philosophical literature Religious literature

Statement Type

Question

Language

Chinese

Time

400 BC 400s BC 5th century BC

Authentication Score 0

Original Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. 道德經 [Tao Te Ching]. c. 400 BC, ch. 15.

Current Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. "The Natural Way of Lao Tzu." A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, translated by Wing-Tsit Chan. Princeton University Press, 1969, ch. 15.

If you try to change it, you will ruin it. Try to hold it, and you will lose it.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching

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Topic

Letting go Grasping Attachment

Author

Lao Tzu

Source

Tao Te Ching

Genre

Philosophical literature Religious literature

Statement Type

Paradox Zen koan

Language

Chinese

Time

400 BC 400s BC 5th century BC

Authentication Score 0

Original Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. 道德經 [Tao Te Ching]. c. 400 BC, ch. 29.

Current Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. "The Natural Way of Lao Tzu." A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, translated by Wing-Tsit Chan. Princeton University Press, 1969, ch. 29.

A young man's duty is to behave well to his parents at home and to his elders abroad.

Confucius

Quoted in Analects

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Topic

Filial piety How to behave

Speaker

Confucius

Source

Analects

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Chinese

Time

221 BC 220s BC 3rd century BC

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Confucius. 論語 [The Analects]. c. 479 BCE.

Current Citation

Confucius. The Analects, edited and translated by Annping Chin. Penguin Classics, 2014.

What is over and done with, one does not discuss. What has already taken its course, one does not criticize; what already belongs to the past, one does not censure.

Confucius

Quoted in Analects

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Topic

Letting go of the past The past

Speaker

Confucius

Source

Analects

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Chinese

Time

221 BC 220s BC 3rd century BC

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Confucius. 論語 [The Analects]. c. 479 BCE.

Current Citation

Confucius. The Analects, edited and translated by Annping Chin. Penguin Classics, 2014.

In revolutions the occasions may be trifling but great interests are at stake.

Aristotle

Politics

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Topic

Causes of revolution Revolution

Author

Aristotle

Source

Politics

Genre

Political literature Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

350 BC 350s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Aristotle. Politics. 4th century BC, bk. 5.

Current Citation

Aristotle. Politics, translated by R. F. Stalley and Sir Ernest Barker. Oxford University Press, 2009, bk. 5.