“Love is the joy of the good, the wonder of the wise, the amazement of the Gods.”
- 427 BC – 347 BC
- Born in Athens, ancient Greece
- Philosopher, scholar, founder of the Academy
- A student of Socrates, his works include “The Republic” and “The Symposium,” and he had a major influence on Western philosophy with his ideas and philosopher-rulership.
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Quote
“Love is the joy of the good, the wonder of the wise, the amazement of the Gods.”
Explanation
In this quote, Plato describes love as something that brings joy, wonder, and awe. For the good, love is a source of happiness because it aligns with their virtue and brings them closer to the ideals of goodness and truth. For the wise, love is a source of amazement and inspiration, as it opens the soul to deeper understandings of beauty, truth, and the cosmos. Plato also suggests that even the gods experience awe at love, seeing it as a powerful and transcendent force that moves through the universe, connecting both the divine and human realms.
This understanding of love ties into Plato’s philosophy of beauty and the Forms, where love is seen as a force that leads the soul to higher truths and higher goods. In his dialogues, particularly in *The Symposium*, Plato explores love (or Eros) as a guiding force that leads from physical attraction to a love of intellectual and spiritual beauty, culminating in the love of the Form of Beauty itself. Love, in this sense, is not just an emotion or feeling, but a pathway to greater wisdom and divine understanding.
In modern contexts, this quote resonates with the idea that true love—whether romantic, platonic, or spiritual—is not simply about personal pleasure or desire, but about inspiration, growth, and the elevation of the soul. Love connects us to something greater than ourselves, whether it’s the beauty in the world, the virtue in others, or the transcendent truths of existence. Plato’s message reminds us that love, in its highest form, leads us toward wisdom, goodness, and awe—the qualities that bind us to higher ideals and make us feel connected to the divine.
