I am not an Athenian nor a Greek, but a citizen of the world.

I am that gadfly which God has attached to the state, and all day long and in all places am always fastening upon you, arousing and persuading and reproaching you.

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

The life which is unexamined is not worth living.

Be of good hope in the face of death. Believe in this one truth for certain, that no evil can befall a good man either in life or death, and that his fate is not a matter of indifference to the gods.

Be slow to fall into friendship; but when thou art in, continue firm and constant.

He is richest who is content with the least.

If you will take my advice you will think little of Socrates, and a great deal more of truth.

An evil person damages not only others but himself.

And in knowing that you know nothing, that makes you the smartest of all.

Let him who would move the world first move himself.

As for me, all I know is that I know nothing.

As to marriage or celibacy, let a man take the course he will. He will be sure to repent.

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

False words are not only evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil.

See one promontory, one mountain, one sea, one river and see all.

I myself know nothing, except just a little, enough to extract an argument from another who is wise and to receive it fairly.