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When I hear a man discoursing of virtue, or of any sort of…

“When I hear a man discoursing of virtue, or of any sort of wisdom, who is a true man and worthy of his theme, I am delighted beyond measure: and I compare the man and his words, and note the harmony and correspondence of them. And such an one I deem to be the true musician, having in himself a…” quote by Plato
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“When I hear a man discoursing of virtue, or of any sort of wisdom, who is a true man and worthy of his theme, I am delighted beyond measure: and I compare the man and his words, and note the harmony and correspondence of them. And such an one I deem to be the true musician, having in himself a fairer harmony than that of the lyre.”

Plato

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A genuine person’s words and character must align; true harmony shows inner virtue.

In simple terms: Words and actions should match.

Key Takeaway

Seek consistency between belief and behavior.

Themes

virtue integrity harmony character

Mood

thoughtful inspirational

Type

philosophical didactic

When to use this quote

  • leadership
  • parenting
  • public speaking

Key Concepts

philosophy ethics self‑knowledge

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you verify someone’s integrity?
  • When have you seen harmony between words and deeds?
A Different Perspective

People may appear virtuous yet act otherwise; self‑deception is common.

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