Quote of the Day by Plato: "We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men ..."

Plato Quote

We all understand a child's fear of the dark. It is a natural, almost expected, part of growing up. The ancient philosopher Plato, however, used this universal image to point to a far more profound and sorrowful fear that defines adulthood.

He observed, “We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”

This simple comparison holds a deep and challenging truth about human nature, knowledge, and the courage it takes to truly grow up.

A child's fear is one of the unknown. The dark is a blanket that hides familiar shapes, transforming a safe room into a space of imagined threats. We forgive this fear because it is born of innocence and a lack of understanding. The child has not yet learned to see clearly in the dimness or to trust that the world is still as it was in the light. This fear is natural, and with time, experience, and guidance, it is usually overcome.

Plato’s “light” is not the sun, but the light of truth, self-knowledge, and uncomfortable realities. To be “afraid of the light” is to choose ignorance, denial, and comforting illusions over a clear and honest view of the world and oneself.

This is the tragedy of a mature person who:

• Prefers the safety of a flattering lie to the challenge of a difficult truth.
• Clings to familiar prejudices rather than facing new, enlightening ideas.
• Avoids introspection because they fear seeing their own flaws or unmet potential.
• Rejects growth and change because it is easier to stay in the shadow of old habits.

Unlike the child, this fear is not born of innocence, but of a conscious or subconscious choice. It is a retreat from the responsibility that comes with awareness.

For Plato, a student of Socrates, the pursuit of truth and self-examination was the highest purpose of life. To fear the "light" is therefore to reject the very core of a meaningful existence. It is a tragedy because it represents a stunted spirit. The person remains in a self-imposed darkness, missing out on the clarity, growth, and authentic freedom that comes from facing reality with courage.

The child outgrows the dark with time. The adult who fears the light, however, may never choose to grow. They remain perpetually in a more profound darkness—one not of the eyes, but of the mind and soul.