"The beginning is the most important part of the work" - Plato
What was Plato trying to say
What is the meaning of this quote
2007-01-11 10:01:54 · 7 answers · asked by Robert S. L 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Quotations
it is impossible to finish without beginning
2007-01-11 10:08:22 · answer #1 · answered by wyzrdofahs 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What has been said about foundations and first steps is all good and correct, but Plato was a teacher and, as such, involved in speaking and the arts.
Writers say the opening line should grab you by the throat, push you up against the wall, and keep you there until you finish the whole of what they've written. Speaking is much the same way; if you don't get their attention from the start, you likely won't have their attention in the middle. Music is no different, if you don't like the first 30 seconds of a song, you won't likely notice the beauty that pops up in the middle 30. Plato was more involved in these than with building foundations and first steps of a journey, so I think these were more likely what he was discussing. I can't quote much Plato from heart, and I don't know where this quote is in Plato, but the context can make a big difference -- I could be way off base as to his intentions.
Good luck.
2007-01-12 15:40:32 · answer #2 · answered by Poetic 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with the previous answerer. Well it means the basic foundation is the most important part of the work..Let me explain to you with an example. Let us say I need a house. That is the project, unless I plan and chalk out what I want, I will get nowhere. If my planning has flaws, then there is a lot of hurdles that I will encounter when I am actually building the house and th process gets delayed. So the beginning is the most important part.
2007-01-11 18:13:37 · answer #3 · answered by SP 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The beginning of something, or more before the beginning of something, is when you make all the plans, all the measurements, get all your idea's in order, and then when you do the work nothing will be out of place when you get done.
2007-01-11 18:53:04 · answer #4 · answered by Cora V 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In order to finish something you must first begin For without beginning you can't finish or really do anything.
2007-01-11 18:29:02 · answer #5 · answered by HDsnowlover 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A journey of a million miles starts with a single step.
No, wait, that was Mao. But it means the same thing, doesn't it?
2007-01-11 18:45:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
to me it says getting started or the foundation is the most important thing.
2007-01-11 18:24:06 · answer #7 · answered by dustylee33 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋