5. “It’s hardly going too far to say that Love is present in everything that exists” -Exyximachus | The Odyssey Online
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7 Ways in Which '​Symposium'​ by Plato Defines Love

Because love is something that has been around since the beginning of time.

emilyfarrell
Oct 11, 2018
Villanova University
131
personal photo
Emily Farrell

In This Article:

Over the past few weeks in my writing class, we have analyzed Symposium by Plato. In trying to determine what love is, we have looked at how it manifests itself both in ancient Greece and in today's culture. While Symposium was written over 2000 years ago, many of the messages pertaining to the meaning of love still hold true today.

1. “Sometimes within a single day he starts by being full of life in abundance, when things are going his way, but then he dies away” -Diotima 

Love is malleable, it does not remain constant over time. Sometimes love can make you feel as if you are top of the world, and sometimes it can drive you crazy. However, because love is derived from prosperity, it will always return you back to feelings of joy and fulfillment.

2. “If it isn’t lacking, you can’t desire it, surely.” -Socrates 

Just like playing hard to get (back in 400 BC of course), Socrates pointed out that you can only desire something that you don't have. While love remains regardless of desire, desire fades away once something becomes attainable.

3. “Love is characterized by a high degree of self-discipline, as well as fairness.” -Agathon 

You won't always agree with the people you love, but sometimes it is in both of your best interests to refrain from disagreeing with them on every little thing. In order to maintain peace and equality in a relationship, it is important to listen to the other person's point of view and give them a fair chance to explain their opinions.

4. “They incline towards their own characteristics in others” -Aristophanes 

When you love someone, you look for a person who is like-minded and can help you to emphasize your strengths. If you are proud of the fact that you work hard or love the way that your eyes look, you subconsciously look for these traits in others as well.

5. “It’s hardly going too far to say that Love is present in everything that exists” -Exyximachus 

It is quite easy to find love in the world around you, whether it is in the relationship between family members, friends, significant others, or even towards objects. Even if it is the little things such as a mother comforting her child or a couple sharing a coffee, it is easy to see acts of love wherever you look.

6. “Only lovers are prepared to sacrifice themselves” -Phaedrus 

Love is not always easy. Often times it requires great sacrifice in order to make the other person happy without much return. However, when you love someone, you are fully prepared to make sacrifices for their happiness because you put their needs before your own.

7. “’Love’ is just the name we give to the desire for and pursuit of wholeness.” -Aristophanes

In the end, love is looking for the person who completes you in ways that you didn't know were possible. Aristophanes believed that we were all created as one and split into halves that must find our missing piece, which is a good analogy to looking for love. When you find someone who makes your life feel fulfilled, you have found wholeness and love.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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Mouse, Cookie, Chaos!

He's going to ask for a glass of milk

University of West Georgia
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mouse with a cookie

One of my biggest pet peeves is when someone does not try to help their self before asking others. How can someone else be expected to help you if you do not first do that yourself? I'm all about helping those that need it when the time comes, however whenever someone does not even attempt to help him or herself first then that becomes a huge problem. As we all have learned, people tend to take advantage of us in one way or another. I am sure we all read this short story when we were younger and it follows that same principle:

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You are fun, but firm.

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If you were born between September 23rd - October 22nd, then you are a Libra. Let's be real, Libras are the best because you are the perfect balance of all things in life. Some may find this boring, but they don't know anything about what it means to be all things at once. As Libras, we hold much on our shoulders that no one can understand. These are traits you know to be true if you are a Libra:

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Getting drunk with your best friends is an experience in and of itself. It takes us on wild and ridiculous adventures with the people we trust with our lives. Each one of you plays a vital role in making sure the night goes (relatively) smoothly.

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20 Times When The Kardashians Summed Up Your Finals Week

It's so rude that we have finals.

University of Iowa
149
Kardashians
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Finals week is so rude! So, there's no one better to explain it than the Kardashians themselves!

1. When you look at your finals schedule and become immediately overwhelmed:

2. When your professor says that the final is only going to be short answer questions:

3. When you text your parents to tell them that you're going to have a mental breakdown and drop out of college and they're just like:

I'M Sorry You'Re Overwhelmed GIFfrom Keeping Up With The Kardashians GIFs

4. When you're trying to study with friends, but then you realize that you haven't gotten anything done:

Khloe Khloekardashian GIFfrom Khloe GIFs

5. Then you just end up going on your phone.

6. When you're two weeks away from finals and your professor tells you that you should probably start studying now:

7. When you sit down to take your final and the first question hits you like:

8. When you start the practice problems and you're just like:

9. When you're in your final and find a question that you actually know the answer to:

10. When that one annoying kid in your class says that the final was super easy and they aced it:

Hit You In The Throat Serious GIFfrom Hit You In The Throat GIFs

11. When you come back from your 7:30 a.m. final and crash:

12. When your professor tries to teach you new material a week before the final:

13. When you decide to eat away the pain that is finals week by ordering massive amounts of food:

14. Filling out course evaluations for that one difficult professor like:

15. When it's right before your first final and you're just like:

16. When your professor tells that you the final is cumulative:

17. When the kid next to you keeps looking over at your test:

18. Looking back on the outfits that you wore during finals week like:

Kimk Tears GIFfrom Kimk GIFs

19. When it's been two hours and you've only gotten through five notecards:

20. When you finally make it to the end of the week:

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There's always chaos in the restaurant business.

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10 Signs You Work In A Restaurant
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So, if you work in a restaurant, you can relate with the following points. If not, check out how the brain of a restaurant service (or any customer service) worker actually works. See if you can identify any crazy weird habits your friends have a tendency to partake in.

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