Q0006
“Love is the desire for the perpetual possession of the good.” — Plato (Symposium 206a)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Symposium 206a. Theme: love.
English
Love is the desire for the perpetual possession of the good.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Symposium 206a and files it under Platonism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Plato
Plato (c. 428/427–348/347 BCE) was an Athenian of high birth, a devoted associate of Socrates, and the founder of the Academy.
How to read this passage
Greek distinctions among eros, philia, and agape, Confucian relational ethics, and modern debates about romantic love keep the theme philosophically precise rather than merely sentimental. This passage enters that discussion through love, morality.
Concepts in this quote
- Love
- Love in philosophy ranges from friendship and desire to care, justice, and the transformation of the self.
- Morality
- Morality in philosophy concerns right and wrong, obligation, and the standards by which we judge persons and acts.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Plato. (n.d.). Love is the desire for the perpetual possession of the good. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0006
MLA: Plato. “Love is the desire for the perpetual possession….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0006.
Chicago: Plato. “Love is the desire for the perpetual possession….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0006.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “Love is the desire for the perpetual possession…”?
The passage is attributed to Plato, Symposium 206a. The archive attributes this English wording to Symposium 206a and files it under Platonism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Plato mean by love?
Greek distinctions among eros, philia, and agape, Confucian relational ethics, and modern debates about romantic love keep the theme philosophically precise rather than merely sentimental. This passage enters that discussion through love, morality.