--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: for philosophy, Socrates, if pursued in…" description: "\"“for philosophy, Socrates, if pursued in moderation and at the proper age, is an elegant accomplishment, but too much philosophy is the ruin of human l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e98/plato-103_human-life_for-philosophy-socrates-if-pursued-in-mo_661111.jpg" --- # for philosophy, Socrates, if pursued in moderation and at… ![“for philosophy, Socrates, if pursued in moderation and at the proper age, is an elegant accomplishment, but too much philosophy is the ruin of human life.” quote by Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e98/plato-103_human-life_for-philosophy-socrates-if-pursued-in-mo_661111.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e98/plato-103_human-life_for-philosophy-socrates-if-pursued-in-mo_661111.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e98/plato-103_human-life_for-philosophy-socrates-if-pursued-in-mo_661111.jpg) > ““for philosophy, Socrates, if pursued in moderation and at the proper age, is an elegant accomplishment, but too much philosophy is the ruin of human life.”” [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excessive philosophical speculation can harm practical living; moderation is key. **In simple terms:** Too much philosophy can be harmful. Key Takeaway Balance deep thought with everyday action. Themes philosophy moderation practicality Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - career planning - personal decision making - political debate Key Concepts wisdom intellectual humility Questions to Reflect On - When does contemplation become counterproductive? - How can you integrate philosophy into daily life? A Different Perspective Some may argue that deep thinking is essential for progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accomplishment Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment-philosophy-5267676/) [Human life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Philosophy Ruin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-ruin-5267674/) [Philosophy Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-socrates-228409/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/socrates/) [Socrates Pursued](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/socrates-pursued-5267675/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [All I would ask you to be thinking of is the truth and not Socrates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/all-i-would-ask-you-to-be-thinking-of-is-the-truth-and-not-socrates/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [That man is wisest who, like Socrates, realizes that his wisdom is worthless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/that-man-is-wisest-who-like-socrates-realizes-that-his-wisdom-is/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [And what, Socrates, is the food of the soul? 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For somehow or other our arguments, on whatever ground we rest them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-really-do-not-know-socrates-how-to-express-what-i-mean-for-somehow/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Socrates said that, from above, the Earth looks like one of those twelve-patched leathern balls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/socrates-said-that-from-above-the-earth-looks-like-one-of-those/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“I prefer nothing, unless it is true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-prefer-nothing-unless-it-is-true/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“... as a breath of wind or some echo rebounds from smooth, hard surfaces and returns to the source from which it issued, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/as-a-breath-of-wind-or-some-echo-rebounds-from-smooth-hard-surfaces/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [ Wonder \[said Socrates\] is very much the affection of a philosopher; for there is no other beginning of philosophy than this. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/wonder-said-socrates-is-very-much-the-affection-of-a-philosopher-for/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“Not much time will be gained, O Athenians, in return for the evil name which you will get from the detractors of the city,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/not-much-time-will-be-gained-o-athenians-in-return-for-the-evil-name/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“And Agathon said, It is probable, Socrates, that I knew nothing of what I had said. 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SOCRATES: Then we ought not to retaliate or render…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/socrates-for-doing-evil-to-another-is-the-same-as-injuring-him-crito/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [The wisest of you men is he who has realized, like Socrates, that in respect of wisdom he is really worthless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-wisest-of-you-men-is-he-who-has-realized-like-socrates-that-in/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“Even now I'm well aware that if I allowed myself to listen to him I couldn't resist but would have the same experience again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/even-now-i-m-well-aware-that-if-i-allowed-myself-to-listen-to-him-i/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [ “There you have Socrates’ wisdom; \[b\] he himself isn’t willing to teach, but he goes around learning from others and isn’t even grateful to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/there-you-have-socrates-wisdom-b-he-himself-isn-t-willing-to-teach/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## 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/) [Explore all 1,278 Plato quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## More Human life quotes > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. 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I just can't think of anything that has a higher purpose than putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-williams/i-free-slaves-because-i-believe-we-are-all-created-equal-i-just-can-t/) [Virginia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-williams/) > [Human life consists of doing certain things ... to take part in the life of the community; to be able to talk about subjects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/human-life-consists-of-doing-certain-things-to-take-part-in-the-life/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [There seems to be a kind of order in the universe…in the movement of the stars and the turning of the Earth and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-anne-porter/there-seems-to-be-a-kind-of-order-in-the-universe-in-the-movement-of/) [Katherine Anne Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-anne-porter/) > [I think we are not spend our life as it pick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ankit-narwal/i-think-we-are-not-spend-our-life-as-it-pick/) [ANKIT NARWAL](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ankit-narwal/) > [“Whenever I think about ancient cultures nostalgia seizes me. 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