Character Quote by Socrates
““Is there not one true coin for which all things ought to exchange?- and that is wisdom; and only in exchange for this, and in company with this, is anything truly bought or sold, whether courage, temperance or justice. And is not all true virtue the companion of wisdom, no matter what fears or pleasures or other similar goods or evils may or may not attend her? But the virtue which is made up of these goods, when they are severed from wisdom and exchanged with one another, is a shadow of virtue only, nor is there any freedom or health or truth in her; but in the true exchange there is a purging away of all these things, and temperance, and justice, and courage, and wisdom herself, are a purgation of them.””
About This Quote
Source Dialogue: Plato's Republic, Book IV, 380 BC
True virtue stems from wisdom; exchanging virtues without wisdom yields hollow values.
In simple terms: Wisdom is the foundation of virtue.
Key Takeaway
Seek wisdom first.
Themes
virtue
wisdom
philosophy
Mood
contemplative
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- education
- leadership
- personal development
- public policy
Key Concepts
ethics
knowledge
human flourishing
Questions to Reflect On
- Can virtue exist without wisdom?
- How do we apply wisdom in daily decisions?
A Different Perspective
Wisdom alone may not solve practical problems.
