Poetry Quotes by Plato

Don't ask a poet to explain himself. He cannot.

— Plato

At the touch of love everyone becomes a poet. --Plato

— Plato

Every man is a poet when he is in love.

— Plato

At the touch of love, everybody becomes a poet.

— Plato

Some thoughtlessly proclaim the Muses nine: A tenth is Sappho, maid divine.

— Plato

Poets utter great and wise things which they do not themselves understand.

— Plato

It is vain for the sober man to knock at poesy's door.

— Plato

At the touch of love everyone becomes a poet.

— Plato

The deity on purpose [sings] the liveliest of all lyrics through the most miserable poet.

— Plato

“But of the heaven which is above the heavens, what earthly poet ever did or ever will sing worthily?”

— Plato

The poets are nothing but interpreters of the gods, each one possessed by the divinity to whom he is in bondage.

— Plato

For the rhapsode ought to interpret the mind of the poet to his hearers, but how can he interpret him well unless…

— Plato

What a poor appearance the tales of poets make when stripped of the colours which music puts upon them, and recited in…

— Plato

Romantic Art: The Hearts Awakening - Bouguereau At the touch of love, everyone becomes a poet.

— Plato

The productions of all arts are kinds of poetry and their craftsmen are all poets.

— Plato

Poets do not compose their poems with knowledge, but by some inborn talent and by inspiration, like seers and prophets who also…

— Plato

for a poet is a light and winged thing, and holy, and never able to compose until he has become inspired, and…

— Plato

For the poet is a light winged and holy thing, and there is no invention in him until he has been inspired…

— Plato

The makers of fortunes have a second love of money as a creation of their own, resembling the affection of authors for…

— Plato

“The poet is a light and winged and holy thing, and there is no invention in him until he has been inspired…

— Plato

“If anyone comes to the gates of poetry and expects to become an adequate poet by acquiring expert knowledge of the subject…

— Plato

He who without the Muse's madness in his soul comes knocking at the door of poesy and thinks that art will make…

— Plato

“I knew that not by wisdom do poets write poetry, but by a sort of genius and inspiration; they are like diviners…

— Plato

For not by art does the poet sing, but by power divine. Had he learned by rules of art, he would have…

— Plato

In particular I may mention Sophocles the poet, who was once asked in my presence, How do you feel about love, Sophocles?…

— Plato

“All the same, we ought to point out that if the kinds of poetry and representation which are designed merely to give…

— Plato

. . . you did not seem to me over-fond of money. And this is the way in general with those who…

— Plato

For the poets tell us, don't they, that the melodies they bring us are gathered from rills that run with honey, out…

— Plato

For just as poets love their own works, and fathers their own children, in the same way those who have created a…

— Plato

And we must beg Homer and the other poets not to be angry if we strike out these and similar passages, not…

— Plato

Many are the noble words in which poets speak concerning the actions of men; but like yourself when speaking about Homer, they…

— Plato

Poetry is nearer to vital truth than history.

— Plato

They (the poets) are to us in a manner the fathers and authors of the wisdom.

— Plato

At the touch of love, everyone is a poet.

— Plato

“He who approaches the temple of the Muses without inspiration, in the belief that craftsmanship alone suffices, will remain a bungler and…

— Plato

“A poet, you see, is a light thing, and winged and holy, and cannot compose before he gets inspiration and loses control…

— Plato

Even the good artisans fell into the same error as the poets; because they were good workmen they thought that they also…

— Plato

“Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back.  Those who wish to sing always find a song.  At the…

— Plato

How well I remember the aged poet Sophocles, when in answer to the question, "How does love suit with age, Sophocles -…

— Plato

“And I think that you must have observed again and again what a poor appearance the tales of poets make when stripped…

— Plato