My first college philosophy professor was fond of Whitehead's maxim to the effect that all of Western philosophy was but a series of footnotes to Plato. It is Plato's dialogues, of course, that introduce us to the wisdom of Socrates, greatest of gadflies.

I'm not sure about your interpretations of some of these statements--fools, for instance, may have more to offer us than just the example of their errors--but it's a good list and a good introduction to these legendary minds. Glad to see the stoics well represented.

Will you follow up with something on the Eastern philosophical traditions?