Poet · Greek · 140 quotes
Old age and the passage of time teach all things.
Sophocles
Poet · Greek
You should not consider a man's age but his acts.
Every man can see things far off but is blind to what is near.
A state is not a state if it belongs to one man.
If my body is enslaved, still my mind is free.
If one begins all deeds well, it is likely that they will end well too.
If it were possible to cure evils by lamentation and to raise the dead with tears, then gold would be a less valuable thing than weeping.
Not to be born is, past all prizing, best.
Fortune raises up and fortune brings low both the man who fares well and the one who fares badly; and there is no prophet of the future for mortal men.
A man growing old becomes a child again.
But whoever gives birth to useless children, what would you say of him except that he has bred sorrows for himself, and furnishes laughter for his enemies.
It is a base thing for a man among the people not to obey those in command. Never in a state can the laws be well administered when fear does not stand firm.
To be doing good deeds is man's most glorious task.
The gods plant reason in mankind, of all good gifts the highest.
Look and you will find it - what is unsought will go undetected.
Not all things are to be discovered; many are better concealed.
It's a terrible thing to speak well and be wrong.
If we are to keep our democracy, there must be one commandment: "Thou shalt not ration justice."
I would prefer even to fail with honor than win by cheating.
You win the victory when you yield to friends.
There is a time when even justice brings harm.
To live without evil belongs only to the gods.
In a just cause the weak will beat the strong.
Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud.
Don't you know that silence supports the accuser's charge?
No speech can stain what is noble by nature.
Kindness is ever the begetter of kindness.
Gratitude to gratitude always gives birth.
It is terrible to speak well and be wrong.
Much speech is one thing, well-timed speech is another.
The oaths of a woman I inscribe on water.
To him who is in fear everything rustles.
Always desire to learn something useful.
Things gained through unjust fraud are never secure.
It's impossible to speak what it is not noble to do.
There is a point at which even justice does injury.
No one longs to live more than someone growing old.
A day lays low and lifts up again all human things.
Isn't it the sweetest mockery to mock our enemies?
Profit is sweet, even if it comes from deception.
For shameful deeds are taught by shameful deeds.
Reason is God's crowning gift to man.
Foolishness is indeed the sister of wickedness.
There is nothing more hateful than bad advice.
Evil gains work their punishment.
No treaty is ever an impediment to a cheat.
Enemies' gifts are no gifts and do no good.
Money is the worst currency that ever grew among mankind. This sacks cities, this drives men from their homes, this teaches and corrupts the worthiest minds to turn base deeds.
