The Symposium
by Plato
"The Symposium" by Plato is a philosophical dialogue that takes place at a banquet where several characters, including Socrates, deliver speeches in praise of love (Eros). Through these speeches, the participants explore various aspects of love, ranging from its nature and purpose to its role in personal and societal development. Ultimately, Socrates presents the idea that love is a pursuit of beauty and truth, culminating in the love of the form of beauty itself.
10 curated highlights from this book
Key Insights & Memorable Quotes
Below are the most impactful passages and quotes from The Symposium, carefully selected to capture the essence of the book.
Love is the pursuit of the whole.
He who is not a good man will not be a good lover.
The greatest thing by far is to be a master of the spoken word.
The unexamined life is not worth living.
In every human being, there is a desire for beauty.
We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.
There is no greater good than friendship.
The measure of a man is what he does with power.
A lover is a man who is in love with beauty.
Knowledge is the food of the soul.