Quote Verification

Socrates — Plato, Apology 38a

The unexamined life is not worth living.

Attributed to Socrates

Verified Very high confidence 98% Reviewed 1 October 2026

Verdict

Verified

Verified as wording assigned to Socrates in Plato's Apology in the Fowler translation.

Representation of documented views: Accurately represents the person's views

Original wording and translation

Translator or edition: Harold North Fowler translation, Plato in Twelve Volumes, Vol. 1 (1966), Perseus Digital Library

Claimed source

Plato, Apology 38a

Primary-source evidence

The wording above is traceable to Plato, Apology 38a in the stated edition/translation. Socrates left no writings. This verification establishes that Plato's Apology assigns these words to Socrates in the cited textual tradition; it does not claim a contemporaneous stenographic transcript.

Evidence supporting authenticity

The cited text contains the quoted wording and identifies the work and edition. TBR therefore treats this as verified for that textual source.

Known or probable origin

Plato, Apology 38a.

Historical context

Socrates left no writings. This verification establishes that Plato's Apology assigns these words to Socrates in the cited textual tradition; it does not claim a contemporaneous stenographic transcript.

Translation and wording issues

The surviving source is Plato's Greek text. This record preserves Harold North Fowler's English translation; other translations may phrase the passage differently.

Does it represent the person's teachings?

The quotation is presented in the context of the cited work rather than as an unsourced aphorism.

Conclusion

Verified. The quotation is supported by the cited textual source and edition.