Illustration by James Bennett from Dream by Susan V. Bosak

Despite his key place in the history
of ideas, Socrates left no writings. Most of our knowledge of him and his teachings comes from the dialogues of his most famous pupil, Plato.

Socrates spent his time discussing virtue, justice, and piety wherever
his fellow citizens gathered.

Said Socrates:

"Children nowadays are tyrants. They contradict their parents, gobble their food, and tyrannize their teachers."

"If all misfortunes were laid in one common heap whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be contented to take their own and depart."

"The unexamined life is not worth living."

"To find yourself, think for yourself."

"Let him that would move the world first move himself."

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."

"The only thing I know is that I know nothing."

"Wisdom begins in wonder."

Recommended Reading:

Death of Lies: Socrates by Margo Sorenson. Perfection Learning, 1998. Kenneth and Aleesa, working on an extra credit project about Socrates, suddenly find themselves in ancient Athens, where they meet the famous philosopher and try to save his life.

Socrates by Pierre Moessinger and Manuel Boix (illus). Creative Education, 1993. An attractive presentation of a fictional letter written by Socrates from prison to his sons shortly before his death that explains his philosophies and outlook on life.

The Life and Times of Socrates by Susan Zannos. Mitchell Lane Publishers, 2004. A look at the life of a man who challenged the beliefs of his time and lived through the Golden Age of Greece.

Wise Guy: The Life and Philosophy of Socrates by M.D. Usher and William Bramhall (illus). Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2005. The story of Socrates' life unfolds through cheerful illustrations and a two-tiered text, one layer quite simple and the other full of juicy details about the philosopher's life and times.