"Man is a wingless animal with two feet and flat nails"
- Plato
About this Quote
Plato's quote is a metaphor for the human problem. He is suggesting that human beings are limited in their abilities as well as are not able to fly like birds, but instead have to rely on their 2 feet and level nails to get around. This metaphor is utilized to emphasize the concept that humans are limited in their capabilities and need to rely upon their own physical toughness and also resourcefulness to get by. Plato is suggesting that human beings should use their own resources to make the most of their lives, which they ought to not count on the assistance of others. He is additionally recommending that human beings must strive to reach their complete capacity as well as maximize their lives. By using this metaphor, Plato is stressing the relevance of self-sufficiency and the demand to take advantage of one's own resources.
"Often and often afterwards, the beloved Aunt would ask me why I had never told anyone how I was being treated. Children tell little more than animals, for what comes to them they accept as eternally established"
"Certainly it is wrong to be cruel to animals and the destruction of a whole species can be a great evil. The capacity for feelings of pleasure and pain and for the form of life of which animals are capable clearly impose duties of compassion and humanity in their case"