Skip to content

Character Quote by Socrates

“What most counts is not merely to live, but to live right.” quote by Socrates — Download Open image

“What most counts is not merely to live, but to live right.”

About This Quote

Source Dialogue: Apology, 399 BC

Living rightly matters more than merely existing.

In simple terms: Living right is more important than just living.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize ethical living over mere survival.

Themes

ethics philosophy purpose virtue

Mood

inspirational thought‑provoking

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

education
personal development
public service

Key Concepts

moral philosophy ancient wisdom human flourishing

Questions to Reflect On

What does it mean to live right today?
How can societies foster right living?

A Different Perspective

Interpretations of "right" can vary across cultures.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3.2 out of 5 (4 ratings)

Character Counts Counts Merely Funny Inspirational Life worth living Live Right Love Merely Live Right

More by Socrates

By all means marry; if you get a good wife, you'll be happy. If you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher.

Image

Falling down is not a failure. Failure comes when you stay where you have fallen.

Image

Do not go through life like leaf blown from here to there believing whatever you are told.

Image

If the whole world depends on today's youth, I can't see the world lasting another 100 years.

Image

“I only know, I know nothing”

Image

I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.

Image

If measure and symmetry are absent from any composition in any degree, ruin awaits both the ingredients and the composition... Measure and symmetry are…

Image

Marry a good woman, and be happy the rest of your life. Or, marry a bad, and become a good philosopher

Image

“For the fear of death is indeed the pretense of wisdom, and not real wisdom, being a pretense of knowing the unknown; and no…

Image

There is no difference between knowledge and temperance; for he who knows what is good and embraces it, who knows what is bad and…

Image

Besides, it is a shame to let yourself grow old through neglect before seeing how you can develop the maximum beauty and strength of…

Image

The greatest blessing granted to mankind come by way of madness, which is a divine gift.

Image

Explore all 579 Socrates quotes

More Character quotes

This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…

Image

I always like a character who makes me laugh.

Rachael Stirling

Image

Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…

Robert A. Heinlein

Image

Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.

Image

I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.

Image

When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…

Image

It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…

Emily Deschanel

Image

If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…

Image

Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…

Harry S. Truman

Image

In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.

Image

Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!

Image

I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…

Image

Browse all 32,707 Character quotes