A man of wisdom and wonder, Greek philosopher Socrates was born on this day in 469 B.C. and considered one of the wisest of all time. Through his questioning and honest dialogues, he sought to find what was true and good in life.

"He is richest who is content with the least," he said.

A muse to Plato and Aristippus, Socrates spent much of his life in conversation in the marketplace, exploring an argument to its conclusion. With fellow Athenians, Socrates discussed and debated life. With honest intelligence, he boldly questioned accepted conventions.

"There is no illness of the body apart from the mind," he once said and believed knowledge was innate and the mind was separable from the body.

He taught by making others think. He posed a question... Then suggested a hypothesis or possible answer...Next, he tested and refuted the hypothesis through extensive questioning, listening, and cross-examination... Then he accepted the hypothesis as true or explored counter-examples... Until finally he could act accordingly.

Dedicated to life-long learning and logic, Socrates celebrated the word "Why?" He quoted the motto of the prophetic Oracle of Delphi, "Know Thyself" (Gnothi Seauton) as his passion of life.

"The unexamined life is not worth living," the great philosopher observed. He celebrated knowledge and virtue. His dialogues of ethical, social, and political inquiry became the foundation of Western thinking.

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