Who said “The usual picture of Socrates is of an ugly little plebeian who inspired a handsome…”?

Verified

Richard Rorty. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceContingency, Irony, and Solidarity (1989)

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For academic work, cite the original where you can: Contingency, Irony, and Solidarity (1989).

APA

Rorty, R. (n.d.). The usual picture of Socrates is of an ugly little plebeian who inspired a handsome young nobleman to write long dialogues on large topics. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/32471-the-usual-picture-of-socrates-is-of-an/

MLA

Rorty, Richard. “The usual picture of Socrates is of an ugly little plebeian who inspired a handsome young nobleman to write long dialogues on large topics.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/32471-the-usual-picture-of-socrates-is-of-an/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Rorty, Richard. “The usual picture of Socrates is of an ugly little plebeian who inspired a handsome young nobleman to write long dialogues on large topics.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/32471-the-usual-picture-of-socrates-is-of-an/.

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