--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Paraphrasing Plato's Republic: \"Only…" description: "\"Paraphrasing Plato's Republic: \"Only people who have allowed themselves to be reformed by reality have it in themselves to reform their polis for the b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/rebecca-goldstein-4026_democracy_paraphrasing-plato-s-republic-only-peopl_1899271.jpg" --- # Paraphrasing Plato's Republic: "Only people who have… ![“Paraphrasing Plato's Republic: "Only people who have allowed themselves to be reformed by reality have it in themselves to reform their polis for the better."” quote by Rebecca Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/rebecca-goldstein-4026_democracy_paraphrasing-plato-s-republic-only-peopl_1899271.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/rebecca-goldstein-4026_democracy_paraphrasing-plato-s-republic-only-peopl_1899271.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/rebecca-goldstein-4026_democracy_paraphrasing-plato-s-republic-only-peopl_1899271.jpg) > “Paraphrasing Plato's Republic: "Only people who have allowed themselves to be reformed by reality have it in themselves to reform their polis for the better."” [Rebecca Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-goldstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Only those open to reality’s lessons can transform society for the better. **In simple terms:** Reality‑aware people can improve society. Key Takeaway Stay open to reality’s lessons. Themes reform society self‑awareness Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - community organizing - policy making - educational reform - personal growth Key Concepts political theory ethical philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance idealism and realism? - What reforms reflect reality’s demands? A Different Perspective Being too idealistic may ignore practical constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Paraphrasing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paraphrasing/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Plato's republic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plato-s-republic/) [Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polis/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reform/) [Republic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republic/) ## Related quotes > [I am Plato's Republic. Mr. Simmons is Marcus. 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Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [If future society assumes the contours foretold by Marxism, if the jungle of our cities turns to the polis of man and the dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steiner/if-future-society-assumes-the-contours-foretold-by-marxism-if-the/) [George Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steiner/) > [If the spirit of their intercourse were still the same after their coming together as it had been when they were living apart,' Aristotle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-the-spirit-of-their-intercourse-were-still-the-same-after-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ I did sit down with Jared Polis (D-CO), and we had a good discussion about having the LGBT \[Equality\] Caucus pool some money and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-pocan/i-did-sit-down-with-jared-polis-d-co-and-we-had-a-good-discussion/) [Mark Pocan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-pocan/) > [The court is like a palace built of marble; I mean that it is made up of very hard but very polished people. \[Fr.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/the-court-is-like-a-palace-built-of-marble-i-mean-that-it-is-made-up/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) ## More by Rebecca Goldstein > [Youth is not an essential, but rather an accidental property. Nobody is in essence young. 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