Q0222
“First, it always is, and neither comes to be nor perishes.” — Plato (Symposium 211b)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Symposium 211b. Theme: beauty.
English
First, it always is, and neither comes to be nor perishes.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Symposium 211b 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
Aesthetics asks what beauty is, how taste is educated, and how art discloses truth or shapes moral perception. This passage enters that discussion through beauty, love.
Concepts in this quote
- Beauty
- Beauty raises questions about judgment, form, pleasure, and whether aesthetic value is subjective or shares standards.
- Love
- Love in philosophy ranges from friendship and desire to care, justice, and the transformation of the self.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Plato. (n.d.). First, it always is, and neither comes to be nor perishes. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0222
MLA: Plato. “First, it always is, and neither comes to….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0222.
Chicago: Plato. “First, it always is, and neither comes to….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0222.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “First, it always is, and neither comes to…”?
The passage is attributed to Plato, Symposium 211b. The archive attributes this English wording to Symposium 211b 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 beauty?
Aesthetics asks what beauty is, how taste is educated, and how art discloses truth or shapes moral perception. This passage enters that discussion through beauty, love.