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Source identified
“The direction in which education starts a man, will determine his future life.”

Plato · Dialogue speaker · Socrates

Source
The Republic
Date
4th century BCE
Attribution
Source identified
Voice / speaker
Dialogue speaker · Socrates
English wording
Benjamin Jowett — Translator · from Ancient Greek
Meaning

What does this quote mean?

Early education shapes habits of attention and judgment, so its direction can influence the kind of person someone later becomes.

Source context

Where does it come from?

The Republic, Book IV in Benjamin Jowett’s translation; the line appears during discussion of education and civic character.

Primary / edition source ↗

Voice attribution

Who voices the line?

Dialogue speaker · Socrates. Socrates addresses Adeimantus in Republic, Book IV, about the long-term direction established by education.

The source author and the local speaker can be different, especially in fiction, drama, dialogue and poetry.

Attribution

How should this attribution be read?

This wording is connected with the named source shown above. Translations and editions can vary, so consult the source note when exact wording matters.

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Themes

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