--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No one knows whether death, which people…" description: "\"No one knows whether death, which people fear to be the greatest evil, may not be the greatest good.\" — Plato" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/835/plato-103_death_no-one-knows-whether-death-which-people_1417739.jpg" --- # No one knows whether death, which people fear to be the… ![“No one knows whether death, which people fear to be the greatest evil, may not be the greatest good.” quote by Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/835/plato-103_death_no-one-knows-whether-death-which-people_1417739.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/835/plato-103_death_no-one-knows-whether-death-which-people_1417739.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/835/plato-103_death_no-one-knows-whether-death-which-people_1417739.jpg) > “No one knows whether death, which people fear to be the greatest evil, may not be the greatest good.” [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. Questions whether death might be a greater good than feared evil. **In simple terms:** Death could be beneficial, not just evil. Key Takeaway Consider death as possibly positive. Themes philosophy ethics mortality Mood thoughtful curious Type philosophical inquisitive When to use this quote - debates on euthanasia - spiritual teachings - life coaching Key Concepts dualism existential inquiry moral paradox Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions about death are cultural? - Can fear of death be overcome? A Different Perspective Lacks empirical evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Know one knows whether death, which people fear to be the greatest evil, may not be the greatest good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/know-one-knows-whether-death-which-people-fear-to-be-the-greatest/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Pleasure, or wrong or rightly understood, Our greatest evil, or our greatest good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/pleasure-or-wrong-or-rightly-understood-our-greatest-evil-or-our/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Duty is but a pot. It holds whatever is put in it, from the greatest evil to the greatest good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/duty-is-but-a-pot-it-holds-whatever-is-put-in-it-from-the-greatest/) [John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/) > [“For to fear death, men, is in fact nothing other than to seem to be wise, but not to be so. For it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/for-to-fear-death-men-is-in-fact-nothing-other-than-to-seem-to-be/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Nobody knows what death is, nor whether to man it is perchance the greatest of blessings, yet people fear it as if they surely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/nobody-knows-what-death-is-nor-whether-to-man-it-is-perchance-the/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [To fear death is nothing other than to think oneself wise when one is not. For it is to think one knows what one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/to-fear-death-is-nothing-other-than-to-think-oneself-wise-when-one-is-2/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [“For to fear death, my friends, is only to think ourselves wise without really being wise, for it is to think that we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/for-to-fear-death-my-friends-is-only-to-think-ourselves-wise-without/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“To fear death is nothing other than to think oneself wise when one is not; for it is to think one knows what one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/to-fear-death-is-nothing-other-than-to-think-oneself-wise-when-one-is/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [No one knows whether death is really the greatest blessing a man can have, but they fear it is the greatest curse, as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/no-one-knows-whether-death-is-really-the-greatest-blessing-a-man-can/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [No one knows whether death may not be the greatest good that can happen to man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/no-one-knows-whether-death-may-not-be-the-greatest-good-that-can/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [No one knows whether death may not be the greatest of all blessings for a man, yet men fear it as if they knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/no-one-knows-whether-death-may-not-be-the-greatest-of-all-blessings/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Of all the things of a man's soul which he has within him, justice is the greatest good and injustice the greatest evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/of-all-the-things-of-a-man-s-soul-which-he-has-within-him-justice-is/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Inability to tell good from evil is the greatest worry of man's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/inability-to-tell-good-from-evil-is-the-greatest-worry-of-man-s-life/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The acknowledgement of having suffered evil is the greatest step forward in mental health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-molyneux/the-acknowledgement-of-having-suffered-evil-is-the-greatest-step/) [Stefan Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-molyneux/) > [“... Who knows what death, anxiety of the living, Who knows what loneliness, end of the loving I could say to myself of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-cius-de-moraes/who-knows-what-death-anxiety-of-the-living-who-knows-what-loneliness/) [Vinicius de Moraes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-cius-de-moraes/) ## 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 Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) J. Anthony Torino > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) Alan W. Powers > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/) [Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) [Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No one knows whether death, which people fear to be the greatest evil, may not be the greatest good.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Plato" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/no-one-knows-whether-death-which-people-fear-to-be-the-greatest-evil/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/no-one-knows-whether-death-which-people-fear-to-be-the-greatest-evil/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/835/plato-103_death_no-one-knows-whether-death-which-people_1417739.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/835/plato-103_death_no-one-knows-whether-death-which-people_1417739.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/835/plato-103_death_no-one-knows-whether-death-which-people_1417739.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No one knows whether death, which people fear to be the greatest evil, may not be the greatest good.” — Plato", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Plato", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "No one knows whether death, which...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/no-one-knows-whether-death-which-people-fear-to-be-the-greatest-evil/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/no-one-knows-whether-death-which-people-fear-to-be-the-greatest-evil/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```