Excerpt from: GREAT MINDS Think Like This: Timeless Wisdom for Transformation.

Aspasia of Miletus

Pioneer of Voice and Influence

Aspasia of Miletus, born around 470 BCE in what is now Turkey, was one of the most remarkable and controversial women of ancient Greece. Though women at the time were largely excluded from public discourse, Aspasia broke through societal norms to become a respected intellectual and teacher in Athens. She was known for her wit, wisdom, and ability to engage with some of the greatest thinkers of her time, including Socrates and Pericles, the Athenian statesman with whom she had a long and influential relationship. While few of her words were recorded directly, her legacy as a philosopher, rhetorician, and advocate for the power of the spoken word continues to inspire.

Here are five enduring wisdom lessons we can learn from the life and influence of Aspasia.

1. Use Your Voice — Even When Others Try to Silence It

The Lesson: Speaking up is a powerful act of courage, especially when it goes against the norm.

In a time when women were expected to stay silent, Aspasia participated in public debates, advised politicians, and hosted gatherings of philosophers. She was renowned for her eloquence and intellect, and she didn't let the constraints of her gender keep her from sharing her ideas. Her example reminds us that voice is agency — and using it can shift culture.

How You Can Use It:

If you feel your voice doesn’t belong in the room — speak anyway. Your thoughts, questions, and insights matter. Challenge assumptions and be bold in sharing your truth. You might be the voice that opens the door for others.

2. Knowledge is Power — and It's for Everyone

The Lesson: Aspasia believed that education should be inclusive and transformative.

Aspasia wasn’t just a thinker — she was a teacher. She ran a kind of informal salon where she educated both men and women in philosophy and rhetoric. She believed that the ability to reason, argue, and communicate should not be limited to the elite or to men. She worked to elevate those around her by sharing knowledge freely.

How You Can Use It:

Seek out opportunities to learn and grow — and share what you know with others. True power comes not from hoarding knowledge, but from spreading it. Mentor someone. Ask questions. Be a student of life, and help others rise along with you.

3. Influence Can Be Quiet — and Still Revolutionary

The Lesson: You don’t need a title to shape the world — your presence and ideas can be enough.

Aspasia had no official political role, yet she was one of the most influential voices behind Pericles’ policies and speeches. She shaped Athenian thought and public life from behind the scenes, proving that leadership can take many forms. Influence, after all, often begins in conversation and connection.

How You Can Use It:

Don’t underestimate the impact you have just by showing up with clarity, care, and conviction. You don’t have to be loud to be powerful. Your influence might be quiet, but that doesn’t make it any less profound.

4. Connection Fuels Change

The Lesson: Great ideas grow through relationships, not isolation.

Aspasia surrounded herself with thinkers, leaders, and artists. She thrived in conversation and understood that collective wisdom is richer than any single voice. Her gatherings were a space for growth, exploration, and dialogue — a kind of living classroom where ideas could flourish.

How You Can Use It:

Build your own circle of growth. Find people who challenge you, support you, and spark your thinking. Whether it’s a book club, a mastermind group, or a friend who dreams big — community is a powerful catalyst for wisdom and change.



5. Be Unapologetically Yourself

The Lesson: Aspasia didn’t shrink to fit others’ expectations — and neither should you.

Aspasia was criticized and even mocked in plays and public writings for being outspoken, educated, and influential. But she never let that stop her. She walked through a world that tried to define her — and redefined it instead. Her confidence in her identity made her a trailblazer not just for women, but for anyone who has ever felt like they don’t belong.

How You Can Use It:

You don’t need to be perfect — you just need to be you. Let go of the need to fit into someone else’s mold. The world needs your full, authentic self. Aspasia reminds us: boldness isn’t arrogance — it’s freedom.

Aspasia of Miletus may not be as widely known as some of her contemporaries, but her influence echoes through time. She lived her truth with courage, used her voice to elevate others, and proved that wisdom and leadership aren’t defined by gender or status. In every age, there are those who defy convention to bring light and change. Aspasia was one of those voices. Let her inspire you to be one too.