--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Socrates had it wrong; it is not the…" description: "\"Socrates had it wrong; it is not the unexamined but finally the uncommitted life that is not worth living.\" — William Sloane Coffin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de4/william-sloane-coffin-4839_life_socrates-had-it-wrong-it-is-not-the-unex_1381455.png" --- # Socrates had it wrong; it is not the unexamined but… ![“Socrates had it wrong; it is not the unexamined but finally the uncommitted life that is not worth living.” quote by William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de4/william-sloane-coffin-4839_life_socrates-had-it-wrong-it-is-not-the-unex_1381455.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de4/william-sloane-coffin-4839_life_socrates-had-it-wrong-it-is-not-the-unex_1381455.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de4/william-sloane-coffin-4839_life_socrates-had-it-wrong-it-is-not-the-unex_1381455.png) > “Socrates had it wrong; it is not the unexamined but finally the uncommitted life that is not worth living.” [William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sloane-coffin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reinterprets Socrates, suggesting that a life lacking commitment—rather than one lacking examination—is what fails to hold meaning. **In simple terms:** An uncommitted life is unfulfilling, not just an unexamined one. Key Takeaway Commit fully to your choices. Themes philosophy ethics personal development Mood thoughtful challenging Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career decisions - relationships - political activism - creative projects Key Concepts commitment meaning existentialism Questions to Reflect On - Are you truly committed to your goals? - What does commitment mean to you? A Different Perspective Commitment without reflection can become blind. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Uncommitted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncommitted/) [Worth living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worth-living/) ## Related quotes > [The uncommitted life isn't worth living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-fishwick/the-uncommitted-life-isn-t-worth-living/) Marshall Fishwick > [SOCRATES: Perhaps we may be wrong; if so, you in your wisdom should convince us that we are mistaken in preferring justice to injustice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/socrates-perhaps-we-may-be-wrong-if-so-you-in-your-wisdom-should/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Socrates said the unexamined life is not worth living. But the over-examined life makes you wish you were dead. Given the alternative, I'd rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/socrates-said-the-unexamined-life-is-not-worth-living-but-the-over/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [As Socrates I believe said the unexamined life is not worth living. I believe that's true. I do believe that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-behar/as-socrates-i-believe-said-the-unexamined-life-is-not-worth-living-i/) [Joy Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-behar/) > [In a speech, the columnist Charles Krauthammer… offered a new version of Socrates' famous saying, "The unexamined life is not worth living." In our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-leo/in-a-speech-the-columnist-charles-krauthammer-offered-a-new-version/) [John Leo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-leo/) > [Excuses are the crutches of the uncommitted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-bernard/excuses-are-the-crutches-of-the-uncommitted/) [A. R. Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-bernard/) > [They said there was no rest for the wicked. In fact, there was rest neither for the virtuous nor the wicked, nor for guys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/they-said-there-was-no-rest-for-the-wicked-in-fact-there-was-rest/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [Success is not for the weak and uncommitted... Sometimes it's gonna hurt!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/success-is-not-for-the-weak-and-uncommitted-sometimes-it-s-gonna-hurt/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [Unconditional war can no longer lead to unconditional victory. It can no longer serve to settle disputes. It can no longer concern the Great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/unconditional-war-can-no-longer-lead-to-unconditional-victory-it-can-3/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [A pure heart is one that is unencumbered, unworried, uncommitted and which does not want its own way about anything but which, rather, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/a-pure-heart-is-one-that-is-unencumbered-unworried-uncommitted-and/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [The uncommitted share many of our core values, but if we do not live out those values in a compelling way, we will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/the-uncommitted-share-many-of-our-core-values-but-if-we-do-not-live/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Make a total commitment to your company, your job, and your career. Uncommitted people have no future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/make-a-total-commitment-to-your-company-your-job-and-your-career/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Sarah Palin has been hired back by Fox News, and she only left five months ago. She has now effectively quit quitting. She can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-oliver/sarah-palin-has-been-hired-back-by-fox-news-and-she-only-left-five/) [John Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-oliver/) > [As long as possible live free and uncommitted. It makes but little difference whether you are committed to a farm or the county jail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-long-as-possible-live-free-and-uncommitted-it-makes-but-little/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [People do not follow uncommitted leaders. Commitment can be displayed in a full range of matters to include the work hours you choose to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-gregg/people-do-not-follow-uncommitted-leaders-commitment-can-be-displayed/) Stephen R. Gregg ## More by William Sloane Coffin > [“Joy is the most important Christian emotion. 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