“To love rightly is to love what is orderly and beautiful in an educated and disciplined way.”
- 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
“To love rightly is to love what is orderly and beautiful in an educated and disciplined way.”
Explanation
In this quote, Plato defines right love as the love for things that are orderly and beautiful, and emphasizes that this love should be approached with education and discipline. For Plato, love is not merely an emotional or spontaneous feeling, but a thoughtful and guided attraction to things that embody truth, goodness, and aesthetic harmony. True love, in his view, is aligned with the pursuit of higher values, such as virtue and wisdom, and should be cultivated in a way that contributes to personal growth and the greater good.
This idea connects to Plato’s broader views on the relationship between beauty and virtue, particularly in his philosophy of the Forms, where he argues that the physical world is a reflection of higher, unchanging ideals. In *The Symposium*, Plato explores different kinds of love, suggesting that the highest form of love is not just a physical or emotional connection, but a love for higher ideals such as intellectual beauty and moral excellence. Such love must be guided by reason, education, and self-discipline, and should lead the lover to a deeper understanding of truth and justice.
In modern terms, this quote suggests that true love—whether for a person, an idea, or an object—is not just about immediate gratification or attraction, but about appreciating and cultivating what is beautiful, orderly, and meaningful in a way that is guided by wisdom and moral discipline. It invites us to recognize that love, when rooted in higher ideals and approached with intention, can be a force for growth and fulfillment.
