Quotes by Greek Authors | Beyond Motive 2/32

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Quotes by Greek Authors

"Bad men are full of repentance."

"Bad men are full of repentance."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, Men, Repentance

28

"Children are the anchors of a mother's life."

"Children are the anchors of a mother's life."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Life, Mother, Children

28

"If you do not the expect the unexpected you will not find it, for it is not to be reached by search or trail."

"If you do not the expect the unexpected you will not find it, for it is not to be reached by search or trail."

Heraclitus, Greek Philosopher

28

"One man cannot practice many arts with success."

"One man cannot practice many arts with success."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Success, Man, Practice

27

"If one begins all deeds well, it is likely that they will end well too."

"If one begins all deeds well, it is likely that they will end well too."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Success, Deeds, End, Will

26

"All things will be produced in superior quantity and quality, and with greater ease, when each man works at a single occupation, in accordance with his natural gifts, and at the right moment, without meddling with anything else."

"All things will be produced in superior quantity and quality, and with greater ease, when each man works at a single occupation, in accordance with his natural gifts, and at the right moment, without meddling with anything else."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Quality, Gifts, Man, Occupation

24

"The oldest, shortest words - "yes" and "no" - are those which require the most thought."

"The oldest, shortest words - "yes" and "no" - are those which require the most thought."

Pythagoras, Greek Mathematician

24

"One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors."

"One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, Politics, Being, End

23

"I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing."

"I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing."

Socrates, Greek Philosopher

Humility, Man, Nothing

22

"If you wish to be a writer, write."

"If you wish to be a writer, write."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Creativity, Writer

22

"Tolerance and apathy are the last virtues of a dying society."

"Tolerance and apathy are the last virtues of a dying society."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Civilization, Tolerance, Apathy, Decline, Values

21

"Please all, and you will please none."

"Please all, and you will please none."

Aesop, Greek Author

Acceptance, Will

19

"Wisdom comes alone through suffering."

"Wisdom comes alone through suffering."

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

Wisdom, Suffering

19

"The most difficult thing in life is to know yourself."

"The most difficult thing in life is to know yourself."

Thales, Greek Philosopher

18

"Nothing is more active than thought, for it travels over the universe, and nothing is stronger than necessity for all must submit to it."

"Nothing is more active than thought, for it travels over the universe, and nothing is stronger than necessity for all must submit to it."

Thales, Greek Philosopher

Thought, Necessity, Nothing, Universe

18

"Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity."

"Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, Education, Adversity, Prosperity

18

"Without a sign, his sword the brave man draws, and asks no omen, but his country's cause."

"Without a sign, his sword the brave man draws, and asks no omen, but his country's cause."

Homer, Greek Poet

Cause, Country, Man

17

"He who learns must suffer. And even in our sleep pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God."

"He who learns must suffer. And even in our sleep pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God."

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

Wisdom, God, Heart, Despair

17

"The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future in life."

"The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future in life."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Education, Life, Direction, Future

17

"Do not talk a little on many subjects, but much on a few."

"Do not talk a little on many subjects, but much on a few."

Pythagoras, Greek Mathematician

17

"Not knowing anything is the sweetest life."

"Not knowing anything is the sweetest life."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

17

"Wit is educated insolence."

"Wit is educated insolence."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

17

"Where there is reverence there is fear, but there is not reverence everywhere that there is fear, because fear presumably has a wider extension than reverence."

"Where there is reverence there is fear, but there is not reverence everywhere that there is fear, because fear presumably has a wider extension than reverence."

Socrates, Greek Philosopher

16

"A horse is a thing of beauty... none will tire of looking at him as long as he displays himself in his splendor."

"A horse is a thing of beauty... none will tire of looking at him as long as he displays himself in his splendor."

Xenophon, Greek Soldier

16

"But learn that to die is a debt we must all pay."

"But learn that to die is a debt we must all pay."

Euripides, Greek Poet

16

"Know, first, who you are, and then adorn yourself accordingly."

"Know, first, who you are, and then adorn yourself accordingly."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

16

"Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money."

"Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Life, Money, Gain

16

"Only the dead have seen the end of war."

"Only the dead have seen the end of war."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Philosophy, War, End

15

"Justice will not come to Athens until those who are not injured are as indignant as those who are injured."

"Justice will not come to Athens until those who are not injured are as indignant as those who are injured."

Thucydides, Greek Historian

Justice, Athens, Will

15

"Courage is knowing what not to fear."

"Courage is knowing what not to fear."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

15

"The Ideal age for marriage in men is 35. The Ideal age for marriage in women is 18."

"The Ideal age for marriage in men is 35. The Ideal age for marriage in women is 18."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Marriage, Aging, Ideal, Gender

15

"No speech can stain what is noble by nature."

"No speech can stain what is noble by nature."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

15

"There is no pain so great as the memory of joy in present grief."

"There is no pain so great as the memory of joy in present grief."

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

Grief, Joy, Memory, Pain

15

"The anvil of justice is planted firm, and fate who makes the sword does the forging in advance."

"The anvil of justice is planted firm, and fate who makes the sword does the forging in advance."

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

14

"But if cattle and horses or lions had hands, or were able to draw with their hands and do the work that men can do, horses would draw the forms of the gods like horses, and cattle like cattle, and they would make their bodies such as they each had themselves."

"But if cattle and horses or lions had hands, or were able to draw with their hands and do the work that men can do, horses would draw the forms of the gods like horses, and cattle like cattle, and they would make their bodies such as they each had themselves."

Xenophanes, Greek Philosopher

Man, Men, Work, Gods, Horses

14

"The wildest colts make the best horses."

"The wildest colts make the best horses."

Plutarch, Greek Philosopher

Learning, Horses

14

"Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything."

"Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Music, Life, Imagination, Soul

14

"Wonder is the feeling of the philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder."

"Wonder is the feeling of the philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, Feeling, Philosophy, Wonder

14

"Misfortune seldom intrudes upon the wise man; his greatest and highest interests are directed by reason throughout the course of life."

"Misfortune seldom intrudes upon the wise man; his greatest and highest interests are directed by reason throughout the course of life."

Epicurus, Greek Philosopher

Life, Man, Misfortune, Reason

14

"I am not an Athenian or a Greek, but a citizen of the world."

"I am not an Athenian or a Greek, but a citizen of the world."

Diogenes, Greek Philosopher

14

"Dictatorship naturally arises out of democracy, and the most aggravated form of tyranny and slavery out of the most extreme liberty."

"Dictatorship naturally arises out of democracy, and the most aggravated form of tyranny and slavery out of the most extreme liberty."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Politics, Democracy, Dictatorship, Extreme, Liberty

14

"A great city is not to be confounded with a populous one."

"A great city is not to be confounded with a populous one."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Urbanism, City, Greatness, Population, Meaning

14

"Suffering becomes beautiful when anyone bears great calamities with cheerfulness, not through insensibility but through greatness of mind."

"Suffering becomes beautiful when anyone bears great calamities with cheerfulness, not through insensibility but through greatness of mind."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Inspirational, Greatness, Cheerfulness, Mind, Suffering

14

"I have learned to hate all traitors, and there is no disease that I spit on more than treachery."

"I have learned to hate all traitors, and there is no disease that I spit on more than treachery."

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

Hatred, Disease, Hate, Treachery

13

"A system of morality which is based on relative emotional values is a mere illusion, a thoroughly vulgar conception which has nothing sound in it and nothing true."

"A system of morality which is based on relative emotional values is a mere illusion, a thoroughly vulgar conception which has nothing sound in it and nothing true."

Socrates, Greek Philosopher

Morality, Values, Illusion, Nothing

13

"Everything in excess is opposed to nature."

"Everything in excess is opposed to nature."

Hippocrates, Greek Scientist

13

"I believe, however, that such abnormal moments can be found in everyone, and it is all the more fortunate when they occur in individuals with creative talent or with clairvoyant powers."

"I believe, however, that such abnormal moments can be found in everyone, and it is all the more fortunate when they occur in individuals with creative talent or with clairvoyant powers."

Giorgio de Chirico, Greek Artist

Talent, Moments

13

"At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst."

"At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Justice, Animals, Law, Man

13

"Man is most nearly himself when he achieves the seriousness of a child at play."

"Man is most nearly himself when he achieves the seriousness of a child at play."

Heraclitus, Greek Philosopher

Man, Play, Seriousness

13

"In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face."

"In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face."

Diogenes of Sinope, Greek Philosopher

13

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