Quotes by Greek Authors | Beyond Motive 17/38

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Quotes by Greek Authors

"We're not lawbreakers, we're law-abiding, and intend to stay that way."

"We're not lawbreakers, we're law-abiding, and intend to stay that way."

Panayiotis Zavos, Greek Scientist

11

"Whoever is new to power is always harsh."

"Whoever is new to power is always harsh."

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

11

"Our prayers should be for blessings in general, for God knows best what is good for us."

"Our prayers should be for blessings in general, for God knows best what is good for us."

Socrates, Greek Philosopher

Faith, God, Blessings

11

"Much effort, much prosperity."

"Much effort, much prosperity."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Effort, Prosperity

11

"The fewer our wants the nearer we resemble the gods."

"The fewer our wants the nearer we resemble the gods."

Socrates, Greek Philosopher

Philosophy, Desire, Simplicity, Wisdom, Contentment

11

"But Paul, in his preaching of the Gospel, is a debtor to deliver the word not to Barbarians only, but also to Greeks, and not only to the unwise, who would easily agree with him, but also to the wise."

"But Paul, in his preaching of the Gospel, is a debtor to deliver the word not to Barbarians only, but also to Greeks, and not only to the unwise, who would easily agree with him, but also to the wise."

Origen, Greek Theologian

Preaching, Word

11

"No evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death."

"No evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Life, Death, Evil, Man

11

"Personal beauty is a greater recommendation than any letter of reference."

"Personal beauty is a greater recommendation than any letter of reference."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

11

"We Greeks are lovers of the beautiful, yet simple in our tastes, and we cultivate the mind without loss of manliness."

"We Greeks are lovers of the beautiful, yet simple in our tastes, and we cultivate the mind without loss of manliness."

Thucydides, Greek Historian

Loss, Lovers, Mind

11

"Happiness is brief. It will not stay. God batters at its sails."

"Happiness is brief. It will not stay. God batters at its sails."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Happiness, God, Will

11

"It is better for you to be free of fear lying upon a pallet, than to have a golden couch and a rich table and be full of trouble."

"It is better for you to be free of fear lying upon a pallet, than to have a golden couch and a rich table and be full of trouble."

Epicurus, Greek Philosopher

Fear, Lying, Trouble

11

"Quickly, bring me a beaker of wine, so that I may wet my mind and say something clever."

"Quickly, bring me a beaker of wine, so that I may wet my mind and say something clever."

Aristophanes, Greek Poet

Wine, May, Mind

11

"As long as man continues to be the ruthless destroyer of lower living beings he will never know health or peace. For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other."

"As long as man continues to be the ruthless destroyer of lower living beings he will never know health or peace. For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other."

Pythagoras, Greek Mathematician

Health, Men, Peace, Animals

11

"Heaven cannot brook two suns, nor earth two masters."

"Heaven cannot brook two suns, nor earth two masters."

Alexander the Great, Greek Leader

Wisdom, Earth, Heaven

11

"Ask not that events should happen as you will but let your will be that events should happen as they do and you shall have peace."

"Ask not that events should happen as you will but let your will be that events should happen as they do and you shall have peace."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Philosophy, Acceptance, Peace, Will, Truth

11

"Quarrels often arise in marriages when the bridal gifts are excessive."

"Quarrels often arise in marriages when the bridal gifts are excessive."

Antisthenes, Greek Philosopher

Fight, Gifts, Quarrels

11

"It is best for the wise man not to seem wise."

"It is best for the wise man not to seem wise."

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

11

"The man of petty ambition if invited to dinner will be eager to be set next his host."

"The man of petty ambition if invited to dinner will be eager to be set next his host."

Theophrastus, Greek Philosopher

Ambition, Man, Will

11

"I left the table where there were important people and had lunch with my husband and a few friends. The reception was organised in my honour, so it was rather amusing."

"I left the table where there were important people and had lunch with my husband and a few friends. The reception was organised in my honour, so it was rather amusing."

Nana Mouskouri, Greek Musician

People, HusbPeople, Friends

11

"Fame is the perfume of heroic deeds."

"Fame is the perfume of heroic deeds."

Socrates, Greek Philosopher

Success, Fame, Heroism, Achievement, Legacy

11

"All men's gains are the fruit of venturing."

"All men's gains are the fruit of venturing."

Herodotus, Greek Historian

11

"If a man comes to the door of poetry untouched by the madness of the Muses, believing that technique alone will make him a good poet, he and his sane compositions never reach perfection, but are utterly eclipsed by the performances of the inspired madman."

"If a man comes to the door of poetry untouched by the madness of the Muses, believing that technique alone will make him a good poet, he and his sane compositions never reach perfection, but are utterly eclipsed by the performances of the inspired madman."

Socrates, Greek Philosopher

Art, Poetry, Inspirational, Madness, Creativity

11

"To him who, though by no means near the end, is yet advancing, He is the way; to him who has put off all that is dead He is the life."

"To him who, though by no means near the end, is yet advancing, He is the way; to him who has put off all that is dead He is the life."

Origen, Greek Theologian

11

"There is only a finger's difference between a wise man and a fool."

"There is only a finger's difference between a wise man and a fool."

Diogenes of Sinope, Greek Philosopher

Difference, Fool, Man

11

"As the old saw says well: every end does not appear together with its beginning."

"As the old saw says well: every end does not appear together with its beginning."

Herodotus, Greek Historian

Beginning, End, Old

11

"No man is happy; he is at best fortunate."

"No man is happy; he is at best fortunate."

Solon, Greek Statesman

11

"As the sun does not wait for prayers and incantations tob e induced to rise, but immediately shines and is saluted by all, so do you also not wait for clappings of hands and shouts of praise tob e induced to do good, but be a doer of good voluntarily and you will be beloved as much as the sun."

"As the sun does not wait for prayers and incantations tob e induced to rise, but immediately shines and is saluted by all, so do you also not wait for clappings of hands and shouts of praise tob e induced to do good, but be a doer of good voluntarily and you will be beloved as much as the sun."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Morality, Action, Goodness, Happiness, Inspirational

11

"When the mind is thinking it is talking to itself."

"When the mind is thinking it is talking to itself."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, Mind, Talking, Thinking

11

"No man who is not willing to help himself has any right to apply to his friends, or to the gods."

"No man who is not willing to help himself has any right to apply to his friends, or to the gods."

Demosthenes, Greek Statesman

Friendship, Gods, Friends, Help, Man

11

"Your edict, King, was strong,But all your strength is weakness itself againstThe immortal unrecorded laws of God.They are not merely now: they were, and shall be,Operative for ever, beyond man utterly.I knew I must die, even without your decree:I am only mortal. And if I must dieNow, before it is my time to die,Surely this is no hardship: can anyoneLiving, as I live, with evil all about me,Think Death less than a friend?"

"Your edict, King, was strong,But all your strength is weakness itself againstThe immortal unrecorded laws of God.They are not merely now: they were, and shall be,Operative for ever, beyond man utterly.I knew I must die, even without your decree:I am only mortal. And if I must dieNow, before it is my time to die,Surely this is no hardship: can anyoneLiving, as I live, with evil all about me,Think Death less than a friend?"

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Philosophy, Mortality, Divinity, Law, Ethics

11

"No enemy is worse than bad advice."

"No enemy is worse than bad advice."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

11

"Freedom, you see, is having events go in accordance with our will, never contrary to it."

"Freedom, you see, is having events go in accordance with our will, never contrary to it."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Philosophy, Freedom, Will, Events, Control

11

"Be assured, fellow citizens, that in a democracy it is the laws that guard the person of the citizen and the constitution of the state, whereas the despot and the oligarch find their protection in suspicion and in armed guards."

"Be assured, fellow citizens, that in a democracy it is the laws that guard the person of the citizen and the constitution of the state, whereas the despot and the oligarch find their protection in suspicion and in armed guards."

Aeschines, Greek Statesman

Constitution, Democracy, Laws, Protection

11

"Self-will in the man who does not reckon wisely is by itself the weakest of all things."

"Self-will in the man who does not reckon wisely is by itself the weakest of all things."

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

11

"Fortify yourself with contentment for this is an impregnable fortress."

"Fortify yourself with contentment for this is an impregnable fortress."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, Contentment, Peace, Happiness, Self

11

"An ignorant person is inclined to blame others for his own misfortune. To blame oneself is proof of progress. But the wise man never has to blame another or himself."

"An ignorant person is inclined to blame others for his own misfortune. To blame oneself is proof of progress. But the wise man never has to blame another or himself."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Philosophy, Wisdom, Self, Progress, Accountability

11

"Nothing shall I, while sane, compare with a friend."

"Nothing shall I, while sane, compare with a friend."

Homer, Greek Poet

Friendship, Friend, Nothing

11

"I have nothing but contempt for the kind of governor who is afraid, for whatever reason, to follow the course that he knows is best for the State."

"I have nothing but contempt for the kind of governor who is afraid, for whatever reason, to follow the course that he knows is best for the State."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Leadership, Governance, Integrity, Action

11

"Keep a watch also on the faults of the patients, which often make them lie about the taking of things prescribed."

"Keep a watch also on the faults of the patients, which often make them lie about the taking of things prescribed."

Hippocrates, Greek Scientist

11

"For in other ways a woman is full of fear, defenseless, dreads the sight of cold steel; but, when once she is wronged in the matter of love, no other soul can hold so many thoughts of blood."

"For in other ways a woman is full of fear, defenseless, dreads the sight of cold steel; but, when once she is wronged in the matter of love, no other soul can hold so many thoughts of blood."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Psychology, Love, Fear, Revenge, Emotion

11

"One should always look to the end of everything, how it will finally come out. For the god has shown blessedness to many only to overturn them utterly in the end."

"One should always look to the end of everything, how it will finally come out. For the god has shown blessedness to many only to overturn them utterly in the end."

Herodotus, Greek Historian

11

"Every perfect traveler always creates the country where he travels."

"Every perfect traveler always creates the country where he travels."

Nikos Kazantzakis, Greek Writer

Nation, Country

11

"My friends, whoever has had experience of evils knows how whenever a flood of ills comes upon mortals, a man fears everything; but whenever a divine force cheers on our voyage, then we believe that the same fate will always blow fair."

"My friends, whoever has had experience of evils knows how whenever a flood of ills comes upon mortals, a man fears everything; but whenever a divine force cheers on our voyage, then we believe that the same fate will always blow fair."

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

Friendship, Experience, Fate, Force, Friends

11

"In making a speech one must study three points: first, the means of producing persuasion; second, the language; third the proper arrangement of the various parts of the speech."

"In making a speech one must study three points: first, the means of producing persuasion; second, the language; third the proper arrangement of the various parts of the speech."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Leadership, First, Language, Persuasion, Speech

11

"Strength of mind rests in sobriety; for this keeps your reason unclouded by passion."

"Strength of mind rests in sobriety; for this keeps your reason unclouded by passion."

Pythagoras, Greek Mathematician

Strength, Mind, Passion, Reason

11

"Happiness is brief It will not stay. God batters at its sails."

"Happiness is brief It will not stay. God batters at its sails."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Happiness, Life, God, Spiritual

11

"Affairs are easier of entrance than of exit; and it is but common prudence to see our way out before we venture in."

"Affairs are easier of entrance than of exit; and it is but common prudence to see our way out before we venture in."

Aesop, Greek Author

Caution, Prudence

11

"Always desire to learn something useful."

"Always desire to learn something useful."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

11

"Wherever magistrates were appointed from among those who complied with the injunctions of the laws, Socrates considered the government to be an aristocracy."

"Wherever magistrates were appointed from among those who complied with the injunctions of the laws, Socrates considered the government to be an aristocracy."

Xenophon, Greek Soldier

Government, Aristocracy, Laws

11

"Hence poetry is something more philosophic and of graver import than history, since its statements are rather of the nature of universals, whereas those of history are singulars."

"Hence poetry is something more philosophic and of graver import than history, since its statements are rather of the nature of universals, whereas those of history are singulars."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Philosophy, History, Nature, Poetry

11

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