The word “philosophy” comes from the Ancient Greek “philosophia”, which literally means “love of wisdom”.Philosophy is divided into many sub-fields. These include epistemology, logic, metaphysics, ethics, and aesthetics.
Below is a list of the greatest philosophers and their quotes.
Plato (c. 428-348 BC) Popular For: Theory of Forms, Platonic idealism, Platonic realism Plato was a philosopher as well as mathematician from Greece.He founded the Academy in Athens.Plato’s dialogues have been used to teach a range of subjects, including philosophy, logic, ethics, rhetoric, religion and mathematics.Plato is one of the most important founding figures in Western philosophy.Quotes: 1.Necessity… the mother of invention. 2.Wise men speak because they have something to say;Fools because they have to say something. For more Plato Quotes |
 Aristotle (384–322 BC)Popular For:Golden mean, Aristotelian logic, Syllogism, Hexis Hylomorphism ,Theory of the soulAristotle was a Greek philosopher and scientist born in Stagira, a town north of Greece.His writings cover many subjects – including physics, biology, zoology, metaphysics, logic, ethics, aesthetics, poetry, theater, music, rhetoric, linguistics, politics and government. He was a student of Plato and teacher to Alexander the great.Quotes: 1.Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom. 2.The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet. For more Aristotle Quotes |
 Socrates (c. 469-399 BC)Popular For: Socratic method,Socratic ironySocrates was an ancient Greek philosopher from Athens. He contributed much to the field of logic and epistimology.He is credited as one of the pioneers of Western philosophy.Quotes:1.Strong minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, weak minds discuss people.2.Worthless people live only to eat and drink; people of worth eat and drink only to live.For more Socrates Quotes |
 Epicurus (341-270 BC)Popular For:Moving’ pleasures and ‘static’ pleasures Epicurus was an ancient Greek philosopher and the founder of the school of philosophy called Epicureanism.He taught that pleasure and pain are the measures of what is good and evil.Quotes:1.Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.2.The misfortune of the wise is better than the prosperity of the fool.
For more Epicurus Quotes |
 René Descartes (1596-1650)Popular For: Cartesian coordinate system,”Cogito ergo sum”(“I think, therefore I am”)René Descartes was a French philosopher, mathematician and writer.He spent most of his life in the Dutch Republic.He is credited as the father of analytical geometry.He is best known for his philosophical statement “Cogito ergo sum”(“I think, therefore I am”)Quotes:1.Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to resolve it.2.I think; therefore I am.For more René Descartes Quotes |
 Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)Popular For: Ressentiment “Will to power”,”God is dead”Friedrich Nietzsche was a German philosopher,cultural critic, poet and composer.One of the key tenets of his philosophy is the concept of “life-affirmation.He also gave ideas such perspectivism, the Will to Power, the “death of God”, the Übermensch and eternal recurrence.Quotes:1.I’m not upset that you lied to me, I’m upset that from now on I can’t believe you. 2.Whenever I climb I am followed by a dog called ‘Ego’.For more Friedrich Nietzsche Quotes |
