Quotes by Greek Authors | Beyond Motive 18/38

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Quotes by Greek Authors

"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

"Reading should serve the goal of attaining peace; if it doesn't make you peaceful, what good is it?"

"Reading should serve the goal of attaining peace; if it doesn't make you peaceful, what good is it?"

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Knowledge, Reading, Peace, Learning

11

"There are in fact two things, science and opinion; the former begets knowledge, the later ignorance."

"There are in fact two things, science and opinion; the former begets knowledge, the later ignorance."

Hippocrates, Greek Scientist

Science, Knowledge, Fact, Ignorance

11

"Men are not influenced by things but by their thoughts about things."

"Men are not influenced by things but by their thoughts about things."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Philosophy, Thought, Mind, Perception, Truth

11

"I loathe a friend whose gratitude grows old, a friend who takes his friend's prosperity but will not voyage with him in his grief."

"I loathe a friend whose gratitude grows old, a friend who takes his friend's prosperity but will not voyage with him in his grief."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Relationship, Friendship, Gratitude, Loyalty, Support

11

"It is not always the same thing to be a good man and a good citizen."

"It is not always the same thing to be a good man and a good citizen."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Morality, Goodness, Duty, Life

11

"In youth and beauty, wisdom is but rare!"

"In youth and beauty, wisdom is but rare!"

Homer, Greek Poet

Wisdom, Beauty, Youth

11

"I know nothing, except the fact of my ignorance."

"I know nothing, except the fact of my ignorance."

Diogenes, Greek Philosopher

Fact, Ignorance, Nothing

11

"If thou wilt make a man happy, add not unto his riches but take away from his desires."

"If thou wilt make a man happy, add not unto his riches but take away from his desires."

Epicurus, Greek Philosopher

11

"For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them."

"For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Learning, Experience, Knowledge, Practice

11

"It is a great thing, indeed, to make a proper use of the poetical forms, as also of compounds and strange words. But the greatest thing by far is to be a master of metaphor. It is the one thing that cannot be learnt from others; and it is also a sign of genius, since a good metaphor implies an intuitive perception of the similarity in dissimilars."

"It is a great thing, indeed, to make a proper use of the poetical forms, as also of compounds and strange words. But the greatest thing by far is to be a master of metaphor. It is the one thing that cannot be learnt from others; and it is also a sign of genius, since a good metaphor implies an intuitive perception of the similarity in dissimilars."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Genius, Poetry, Metaphor, Master

11

"The curse of me and my nation is that we always think things can be bettered by immediate action of some sort, any sort rather than no sort."

"The curse of me and my nation is that we always think things can be bettered by immediate action of some sort, any sort rather than no sort."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Inspirational, Action, Nation

11

"When a Benefit is wrongly conferred, the author of the Benefit may often be said to injure."

"When a Benefit is wrongly conferred, the author of the Benefit may often be said to injure."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

11

"You must remember that no one lives a life free from pain and suffering."

"You must remember that no one lives a life free from pain and suffering."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Philosophy, Pain, Life, Truth, Resilience

11

"The evils of mortals are manifold; nowhere is trouble of the same wing seen."

"The evils of mortals are manifold; nowhere is trouble of the same wing seen."

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

11

"Apply yourself both now and in the next life. Without effort, you cannot be prosperous. Though the land be good, You cannot have an abundant crop without cultivation."

"Apply yourself both now and in the next life. Without effort, you cannot be prosperous. Though the land be good, You cannot have an abundant crop without cultivation."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, Life, Effort, Land, Now

11

"There is no such thing as justice in the abstract; it is merely a compact between men."

"There is no such thing as justice in the abstract; it is merely a compact between men."

Epicurus, Greek Philosopher

Man, Men, Justice

11

"Slight not what is near though aiming at what is far."

"Slight not what is near though aiming at what is far."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Philosophy, Perspective, Goal, Focus, Distance

11

"The only thing I know is that I know nothing, and i am no quite sure that i know that."

"The only thing I know is that I know nothing, and i am no quite sure that i know that."

Socrates, Greek Philosopher

Knowledge, Truth, Humility, Observation

11

"Of what use is a philosopher who doesn't hurt anybody's feelings?"

"Of what use is a philosopher who doesn't hurt anybody's feelings?"

Diogenes of Sinope, Greek Philosopher

Emotional, Feelings, Hurt

11

"Much has been said and continues to be said of what little concern the Turks had for the Acropolis treasures."

"Much has been said and continues to be said of what little concern the Turks had for the Acropolis treasures."

Melina Mercouri, Greek Actress

11

"If one way be better than another, that you may be sure is nature's way."

"If one way be better than another, that you may be sure is nature's way."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

11

"No law or ordinance is mightier than understanding."

"No law or ordinance is mightier than understanding."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, Law, Understanding

11

"To do nothing is also a good remedy."

"To do nothing is also a good remedy."

Hippocrates, Greek Scientist

11

"Do you imagine that a city can continue to exist and not be turned upside down, if the legal judgments which are pronounced in it have no force but are nullified and destroyed by private persons?"

"Do you imagine that a city can continue to exist and not be turned upside down, if the legal judgments which are pronounced in it have no force but are nullified and destroyed by private persons?"

Socrates, Greek Philosopher

Society, Law, Justice, City

11

"It's not beauty but fine qualities, my girl, that keep a husband."

"It's not beauty but fine qualities, my girl, that keep a husband."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Beauty, Husband

11

"We should not moor a ship with one anchor, or our life with one hope."

"We should not moor a ship with one anchor, or our life with one hope."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

11

"Any man may easily do harm, but not every man can do good to another."

"Any man may easily do harm, but not every man can do good to another."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Positive, Harm, Man, May

11

"I do not know whether there are gods, but there ought to be."

"I do not know whether there are gods, but there ought to be."

Diogenes, Greek Philosopher

11

"Honors and rewards fall to those who show their good qualities in action."

"Honors and rewards fall to those who show their good qualities in action."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Merit, Action, Quality, Fall, Show

10

"The sword the body wounds, sharp words the mind."

"The sword the body wounds, sharp words the mind."

Menander, Greek Poet

Body, Mind, Words, Wounds

10

"'Tis said that wrath is the last thing in a man to grow old."

"'Tis said that wrath is the last thing in a man to grow old."

Alcaeus, Greek Poet

Man, Old, Wrath

10

"Destroy the seed of evil, or it will grow up to your ruin."

"Destroy the seed of evil, or it will grow up to your ruin."

Aesop, Greek Author

Prevention, Evil, Ruin, Will

10

"For drink, there was beer which was very strong when not mingled with water, but was agreeable to those who were used to it. They drank this with a reed, out of the vessel that held the beer, upon which they saw the barley swim."

"For drink, there was beer which was very strong when not mingled with water, but was agreeable to those who were used to it. They drank this with a reed, out of the vessel that held the beer, upon which they saw the barley swim."

Xenophon, Greek Soldier

Cultural, Beer, Water

10

"Art is the fatal net which catches these strange moments on the wing like mysterious butterflies, fleeing the innocence and distraction of common men."

"Art is the fatal net which catches these strange moments on the wing like mysterious butterflies, fleeing the innocence and distraction of common men."

Giorgio de Chirico, Greek Artist

Art, Men, Butterflies, Innocence

10

"But they who give straight judgements to strangers and to those of the land and do not transgress what is just, for them the city flourishes and its people prosper."

"But they who give straight judgements to strangers and to those of the land and do not transgress what is just, for them the city flourishes and its people prosper."

Hesiod, Greek Poet

People, Land, Strangers

10

"The matter is as it is in all other cases: if it is naturally in you to be a good orator, a notable orator you will be when you have acquired knowledge and practice."

"The matter is as it is in all other cases: if it is naturally in you to be a good orator, a notable orator you will be when you have acquired knowledge and practice."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Rhetoric, Skill, Nature, Knowledge, Practice

10

"Never make a companion equal to a brother."

"Never make a companion equal to a brother."

Hesiod, Greek Poet

Family, Brother

10

"Two friends, two bodies with one soul inspired."

"Two friends, two bodies with one soul inspired."

Homer, Greek Poet

Friendship, Soul, Friends

10

"There were wonderful moments when I was singing for the first time in the Olympia Theatre and I was pregnant with my son, which was very, very strange for a singer."

"There were wonderful moments when I was singing for the first time in the Olympia Theatre and I was pregnant with my son, which was very, very strange for a singer."

Nana Mouskouri, Greek Musician

Time, Son, First, Moments

10

"We must free ourselves of the hope that the sea will ever rest. We must learn to sail in high winds."

"We must free ourselves of the hope that the sea will ever rest. We must learn to sail in high winds."

Aristotle Onassis, Greek Businessman

Progress, Hope, Rest, Sea, Will

10

"To remind a man of the good turns you have done him is very much like a reproach."

"To remind a man of the good turns you have done him is very much like a reproach."

Demosthenes, Greek Statesman

10

"Wherever you turn, there is always something wrong with the politicians. They have everything they need to save the world, and they don't save it."

"Wherever you turn, there is always something wrong with the politicians. They have everything they need to save the world, and they don't save it."

Nana Mouskouri, Greek Musician

Politicians, World, Wrong

10

"It is better to destroy one's own errors than those of others."

"It is better to destroy one's own errors than those of others."

Democritus, Greek Philosopher

10

"Nothing great is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig. I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen."

"Nothing great is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig. I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Time, Desire, First, Nothing

10

"Remember that with her clothes a woman puts off her modesty."

"Remember that with her clothes a woman puts off her modesty."

Herodotus, Greek Historian

Fashion, Clothes, Modesty, Woman

10

"Hope is the only good that is common to all men; those who have nothing else possess hope still."

"Hope is the only good that is common to all men; those who have nothing else possess hope still."

Thales, Greek Philosopher

Man, Men, Hope, Nothing

10

"Some men give up their designs when they have almost reached the goal; While others, on the contrary, obtain a victory by exerting, at the last moment, more vigorous efforts than ever before."

"Some men give up their designs when they have almost reached the goal; While others, on the contrary, obtain a victory by exerting, at the last moment, more vigorous efforts than ever before."

Herodotus, Greek Historian

Man, Men, Goal, Victory

10

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