Single Idea 222

[catalogued under 25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 5. Education / c. Teaching]

Full Idea

Only a man of very great natural gifts will be able to understand that everything has a class and absolute essence, and an even more wonderful man can teach this.

Gist of Idea

Only a great person can understand the essence of things, and an even greater person can teach it

Source

Plato (Parmenides [c.366 BCE], 135a)

Book Reference

Plato: 'Plato IV (Cratylus,Parmenides,Hippias Maj, Min)', ed/tr. Fowler,H.N. [Harvard Loeb 1926], p.227