More quotes by Jostein Gaarder, Sophie's World

"A philosopher knows that in reality he knows very little. That is why he constantly strives to achieve true insight. Socrates was one of these rare people. He knew that he knew nothing about life and about the world. And now comes the important part: it troubled him that he knew so little."
"A composition—and every work of art is one—is created in a wondrous interplay between imagination and reason, or between mind and reflection. For there will always be an element of chance in the creative process."
"People are, generally speaking, either dead certain or totally indifferent (Both types are crawling around deep down in the rabbit's fur!)"
"But understanding will always require some effort. You probably wouldn't admire a friend who was good at everything if it cost her no effort."
"He could very likely have appealed for leniency. At least he could have saved his life by agreeing to leave Athens. But had he done this he would not have been Socrates. He valued his conscience--and the truth-- higher than life."