Active Quote by Plato
“But this is not difficult, O Athenians! to escape death; but it is much more difficult to avoid depravity, for it runs swifter than death. And now I, being slow and aged, am overtaken by the slower of the two; but my accusers, being strong and active, have been overtaken by the swifter, wickedness. And now I depart, condemned by you to death; but they condemned by truth, as guilty of iniquity and injustice: and I abide my sentence, and so do they. These things, perhaps, ought so to be, and I think that they are for the best.”
About This Quote
Source Dialogue: Gorgias, Plato, c. 380 BC
Avoiding moral decay is harder than avoiding death; decay spreads quickly and overtakes even the wise.
In simple terms: Moral corruption spreads faster than death.
Key Takeaway
Guard against ethical decline.
Themes
ethics
mortality
decay
Mood
cautionary
thought‑provoking
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- political leadership
- personal integrity
- societal reform
Key Concepts
philosophy
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- What personal habits protect you from moral decay?
- How can societies curb the spread of corruption?
A Different Perspective
Even wise individuals can be overtaken by widespread corruption.
