--- title: "8 Inspired Quotes By Plato" description: "8 Inspired quotes by Plato. Plus more from Plato and more Inspired sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/plato-103_able_for-a-poet-is-a-light-and-winged-thing-a_303771.jpg" --- > [for a poet is a light and winged thing, and holy, and never able to compose until he has become inspired, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/for-a-poet-is-a-light-and-winged-thing-and-holy-and-never-able-to/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/plato-103_able_for-a-poet-is-a-light-and-winged-thing-a_303771.jpg) > [For the poet is a light winged and holy thing, and there is no invention in him until he has been inspired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/for-the-poet-is-a-light-winged-and-holy-thing-and-there-is-no/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33e/plato-103_has-beens_for-the-poet-is-a-light-winged-and-holy_610222.jpg) > [Thus does the Muse herself move men divinely inspired, and through them thus inspired a Chain hangs together of others inspired divinely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/thus-does-the-muse-herself-move-men-divinely-inspired-and-through/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/plato-103_chains_thus-does-the-muse-herself-move-men-divi_1106964.jpg) > [“For a poet is an airy thing, winged and holy, and he is not able to make poetry until he becomes inspired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/for-a-poet-is-an-airy-thing-winged-and-holy-and-he-is-not-able-to/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4f/plato-103_able_for-a-poet-is-an-airy-thing-winged-and-h_1177622.jpg) > [“There is also a third kind of madness, which is possession by the Muses, enters into a delicate and virgin soul, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/there-is-also-a-third-kind-of-madness-which-is-possession-by-the/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/plato-103_art_there-is-also-a-third-kind-of-madness-wh_1194887.jpg) > [Many are the noble words in which poets speak concerning the actions of men; but like yourself when speaking about Homer, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/many-are-the-noble-words-in-which-poets-speak-concerning-the-actions/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fff/plato-103_action_many-are-the-noble-words-in-which-poets_1684596.jpg) > [The man who arrives at the doors of artistic creation with none of the madness of the Muses would be convinced that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-man-who-arrives-at-the-doors-of-artistic-creation-with-none-of/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/734/plato-103_ability_the-man-who-arrives-at-the-doors-of-arti_2428481.jpg) > [For the poets tell us, don't they, that the melodies they bring us are gathered from rills that run with honey, out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/for-the-poets-tell-us-don-t-they-that-the-melodies-they-bring-us-are/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d18/plato-103_able_for-the-poets-tell-us-don-t-they-that-th_2647280.jpg) ## Other authors on Inspired ## More by Plato > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [You may be sure, dear Crito, that inaccurate language is not only in itself a mistake: it implants evil in men's souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/you-may-be-sure-dear-crito-that-inaccurate-language-is-not-only-in/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“If men learn this, it will implant forgetfulness in their souls; they will cease to exercise memory because they rely on that which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/if-men-learn-this-it-will-implant-forgetfulness-in-their-souls-they/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/knowledge-which-is-acquired-under-compulsion-obtains-no-hold-on-the/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [I do not think it is permitted that a better man be harmed by a worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-do-not-think-it-is-permitted-that-a-better-man-be-harmed-by-a-worse/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Any city, however small, is in fact divided into two, one the city of the poor, the other of the rich; these are at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/any-city-however-small-is-in-fact-divided-into-two-one-the-city-of/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [When men speak ill of thee, live so as nobody may believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/when-men-speak-ill-of-thee-live-so-as-nobody-may-believe-them/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“The love of man to woman is a thing common and of course, and at first partakes more of instinct and passion than of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-love-of-man-to-woman-is-a-thing-common-and-of-course-and-at-first/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Strange times are these in which we live when old and young are taught in falsehood's school, and the one man that dares to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/strange-times-are-these-in-which-we-live-when-old-and-young-are/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“He was a wise man who invented God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/he-was-a-wise-man-who-invented-god/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [For let me tell you, that the more the pleasures of the body fade away, the greater to me is the pleasure and charm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/for-let-me-tell-you-that-the-more-the-pleasures-of-the-body-fade-away/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“What shall we say about those spectators, then, who can see a plurality of beautiful things, but not beauty itself, and who are incapable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/what-shall-we-say-about-those-spectators-then-who-can-see-a-plurality/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Geometry existed before creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/geometry-existed-before-creation/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [When men speak ill of thee, live so that nobody will believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/when-men-speak-ill-of-thee-live-so-that-nobody-will-believe-them/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [We must, if we are to be consistent, and if we re to have a real pedigree herd, mate the best of our men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/we-must-if-we-are-to-be-consistent-and-if-we-re-to-have-a-real/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspired/plato/#itemlist", "name": "8 Inspired Quotes By Plato", "numberOfItems": 8, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "for a poet is a light and winged thing, and holy, and never able to compose until he has become inspired, and is beside himself, and reason is no longer in him.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Plato" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/for-a-poet-is-a-light-and-winged-thing-and-holy-and-never-able-to/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/plato-103_able_for-a-poet-is-a-light-and-winged-thing-a_303771.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/plato-103_able_for-a-poet-is-a-light-and-winged-thing-a_303771.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/plato-103_able_for-a-poet-is-a-light-and-winged-thing-a_303771.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“for a poet is a light and winged thing, and holy, and never able to compose until he has become inspired…” — Plato", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For the poet is a light winged and holy thing, and there is no invention in him until he has been inspired and is out of his senses and the mind is no longer with him. 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the sane man is nowhere at all when he enters into rivalry with the madman.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Plato" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/there-is-also-a-third-kind-of-madness-which-is-possession-by-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/plato-103_art_there-is-also-a-third-kind-of-madness-wh_1194887.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/plato-103_art_there-is-also-a-third-kind-of-madness-wh_1194887.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/plato-103_art_there-is-also-a-third-kind-of-madness-wh_1194887.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is also a third kind of madness, which is possession by the Muses, enters into a delicate and virgin…” — Plato", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 6, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Many are the noble words in which poets speak concerning the actions of men; but like yourself when speaking about Homer, they do not speak of them by any rules of art: they are simply inspired to utter that to which the Muse impels them, and that only; and when inspired, one of them will make dithyrambs, another hymns of praise, another choral strains, another epic or iambic verses- and he who is good at one is not good any other kind of verse: for not by art does the poet sing, but by power divine.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Plato" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/many-are-the-noble-words-in-which-poets-speak-concerning-the-actions/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fff/plato-103_action_many-are-the-noble-words-in-which-poets_1684596.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fff/plato-103_action_many-are-the-noble-words-in-which-poets_1684596.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fff/plato-103_action_many-are-the-noble-words-in-which-poets_1684596.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Many are the noble words in which poets speak concerning the actions of men; but like yourself when speaking…” — Plato", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 7, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The man who arrives at the doors of artistic creation with none of the madness of the Muses would be convinced that technical ability alone was enough to make an artist... what that man creates by means of reason will pale before the art of inspired beings.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Plato" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-man-who-arrives-at-the-doors-of-artistic-creation-with-none-of/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/734/plato-103_ability_the-man-who-arrives-at-the-doors-of-arti_2428481.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/734/plato-103_ability_the-man-who-arrives-at-the-doors-of-arti_2428481.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/734/plato-103_ability_the-man-who-arrives-at-the-doors-of-arti_2428481.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The man who arrives at the doors of artistic creation with none of the madness of the Muses would be…” — Plato", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 8, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For the poets tell us, don't they, that the melodies they bring us are gathered from rills that run with honey, out of glens and gardens of the Muses, and they bring them as bees do honey, flying like the bees? And what they say is true, for a poet is a light and winged thing, and holy, and never able to compose until he has become inspired, and is beside himself, and reason is no longer in him. So long as he has this in his possession, no man is able to make poetry or to chant in prophecy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Plato" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/for-the-poets-tell-us-don-t-they-that-the-melodies-they-bring-us-are/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d18/plato-103_able_for-the-poets-tell-us-don-t-they-that-th_2647280.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d18/plato-103_able_for-the-poets-tell-us-don-t-they-that-th_2647280.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d18/plato-103_able_for-the-poets-tell-us-don-t-they-that-th_2647280.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For the poets tell us, don't they, that the melodies they bring us are gathered from rills that run with…” — Plato", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } } ] }, { "@type": "CollectionPage", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspired/plato/#webpage", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspired/plato/", "name": "Inspired Quotes by Plato", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspired/plato/#itemlist" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/plato-103_able_for-a-poet-is-a-light-and-winged-thing-a_303771.jpg" }, "description": "8 Inspired quotes by Plato. 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