Able Quote by Anonymous
“The student is half afraid to meet one of the great philosophers face to face. He feels himself inadequate and thinks he will not understand him. But if he only knew, the great man, just because of his greatness, is much more intelligible than his modern commentator. The simplest student will be able to understand, if not all, yet a very great deal of what Plato said; but hardly anyone can understand some modern books on Platonism.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Student anxiety about philosophy, 2015
Students fear confronting great philosophers, feeling inadequate, yet the original works are more understandable than modern commentary.
In simple terms: Great philosophers are more accessible than modern analysis.
Key Takeaway
Read original philosophical texts.
Themes
education
philosophy
confidence
Mood
encouraging
thoughtful
Type
educational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- educational writing
Key Concepts
academic study
self‑directed learning
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do students fear original thinkers?
- How can you build confidence in philosophical study?
A Different Perspective
Modern commentary can obscure original ideas.
![“[L]e philosophe n'a jamais tué de prêtres et le prêtre a tué beaucoup de philosophes... (The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers.)” quote by Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c13/denis-diderot-1536_great-man_l-e-philosophe-n-a-jamais-tu-de-pr-tres_506737.jpg)
