Quotes by Greek Authors | Beyond Motive 21/38

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Quotes by Greek Authors

"Don't explain your philosophy. Embody it."

"Don't explain your philosophy. Embody it."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Philosophy, Truth, Action, Life

9

"When the strong box contains no more both friends and flatterers shun the door."

"When the strong box contains no more both friends and flatterers shun the door."

Plutarch, Greek Philosopher

Friendship, Friends

9

"We must not listen to those who advise us 'being men to think human thoughts, and being mortal to think mortal thoughts' but must put on immortality as much as possible and strain every nerve to live according to that best part of us, which, being small in bulk, yet much more in its power and honour surpasses all else."

"We must not listen to those who advise us 'being men to think human thoughts, and being mortal to think mortal thoughts' but must put on immortality as much as possible and strain every nerve to live according to that best part of us, which, being small in bulk, yet much more in its power and honour surpasses all else."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Aspiration, Immortality, Soul, Divinity, Power

9

"I never yet feared those men who set a place apart in the middle of their cities where they gather to cheat one another and swear oaths which they break."

"I never yet feared those men who set a place apart in the middle of their cities where they gather to cheat one another and swear oaths which they break."

Herodotus, Greek Historian

Man, Men, Cities

9

"We know how to speak many falsehoods that resemble real things, but we know, when we will, how to speak true things."

"We know how to speak many falsehoods that resemble real things, but we know, when we will, how to speak true things."

Hesiod, Greek Poet

9

"Words empty as the wind are best left unsaid."

"Words empty as the wind are best left unsaid."

Homer, Greek Poet

Silence, Wind, Words

9

"Blushing is the color of virtue."

"Blushing is the color of virtue."

Diogenes, Greek Philosopher

9

"If you seek truth you will not seek victory by dishonorable means, and if you find truth you will become invincible."

"If you seek truth you will not seek victory by dishonorable means, and if you find truth you will become invincible."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Truth, Victory, Will

9

"Excellent things are rare."

"Excellent things are rare."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Distinction, Rarity, Excellence, Values, Quality

9

"Those who have virtue always in their mouths, and neglect it in practice, are like a harp, which emits a sound pleasing to others, while itself is insensible of the music."

"Those who have virtue always in their mouths, and neglect it in practice, are like a harp, which emits a sound pleasing to others, while itself is insensible of the music."

Diogenes, Greek Philosopher

Music, Virtue, Neglect, Practice

9

"Now since shame is a mental picture of disgrace, in which we shrink from the disgrace itself and not from its consequences, and we only care what opinion is held of us because of the people who form that opinion, it follows that the people before whom we feel shame are those whose opinion of us matters to us."

"Now since shame is a mental picture of disgrace, in which we shrink from the disgrace itself and not from its consequences, and we only care what opinion is held of us because of the people who form that opinion, it follows that the people before whom we feel shame are those whose opinion of us matters to us."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Reputation, Shame, Disgrace, Opinion, People

9

"Unless we place our religion and our treasure in the same thing, religion will always be sacrificed."

"Unless we place our religion and our treasure in the same thing, religion will always be sacrificed."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Faith, Religion, Treasure, Will

9

"It is Homer who has chiefly taught other poets the art of telling lies skillfully."

"It is Homer who has chiefly taught other poets the art of telling lies skillfully."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Writing, Art, Lies, Poets

9

"Not houses finely roofed or the stones of walls well builded, nay nor canals and dockyards make the city, but men able to use their opportunity."

"Not houses finely roofed or the stones of walls well builded, nay nor canals and dockyards make the city, but men able to use their opportunity."

Alcaeus, Greek Poet

Man, Men, Opportunity, Houses

9

"For if the mystery concealed of old is made manifest to the Apostles through the prophetic writings, and if the prophets, being wise men, understood what proceeded from their own mouths, then the prophets knew what was made manifest to the Apostles."

"For if the mystery concealed of old is made manifest to the Apostles through the prophetic writings, and if the prophets, being wise men, understood what proceeded from their own mouths, then the prophets knew what was made manifest to the Apostles."

Origen, Greek Theologian

Men, Being, Mystery, Old

9

"We are not interested in cloning the Michael Jordans and the Michael Jacksons of this world. The rich and the famous don't participate in this."

"We are not interested in cloning the Michael Jordans and the Michael Jacksons of this world. The rich and the famous don't participate in this."

Panayiotis Zavos, Greek Scientist

9

"Whosoever is delighted in solitude is either a wild beast or a god."

"Whosoever is delighted in solitude is either a wild beast or a god."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, God, Solitude

9

"Shame is an ornament to the young a disgrace to the old."

"Shame is an ornament to the young a disgrace to the old."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Morality, Shame, Youth, Old, Disgrace

9

"Get not your friends by bare compliments, but by giving them sensible tokens of your love."

"Get not your friends by bare compliments, but by giving them sensible tokens of your love."

Socrates, Greek Philosopher

Friendship, Love, Generosity, Truth

9

"Every man is like the company he is wont to keep."

"Every man is like the company he is wont to keep."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Sociology, Company, Influence, Behavior, Personality

9

"We must consider the distinctive characters and the general nature of plants from the point of view of their morphology , their behavior under external conditions, their mode of generation, and the whole course of their life."

"We must consider the distinctive characters and the general nature of plants from the point of view of their morphology , their behavior under external conditions, their mode of generation, and the whole course of their life."

Theophrastus, Greek Philosopher

Life, Nature, Behavior, Plants

9

"The sun, too, shines into cesspools and is not polluted."

"The sun, too, shines into cesspools and is not polluted."

Diogenes, Greek Philosopher

Relationship, Sun

9

"Let us hold our discussion together in our own persons, making trial of the truth and of ourselves."

"Let us hold our discussion together in our own persons, making trial of the truth and of ourselves."

Protagoras, Greek Philosopher

9

"We tell lies, yet it is easy to show that lying is immoral."

"We tell lies, yet it is easy to show that lying is immoral."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Truth, Lies, Lying

9

"For the poet is a light and winged and holy thing, and there is no invention in him until he has been inspired and is out of his senses, and the mind is no longer in him: when he has not attained to this state, he is powerless and is unable to utter his oracles."

"For the poet is a light and winged and holy thing, and there is no invention in him until he has been inspired and is out of his senses, and the mind is no longer in him: when he has not attained to this state, he is powerless and is unable to utter his oracles."

Socrates, Greek Philosopher

Art, Poetry, Inspirational, Creativity, Spirit

9

"The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life, acknowledge the great powers around us and in us. If you can do that, and live that way, you are really a wise man."

"The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life, acknowledge the great powers around us and in us. If you can do that, and live that way, you are really a wise man."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Life, Balance, Man

9

"Do not seek to bring things to pass in accordance with your wishes, but wish for them as they are, and you will find them."

"Do not seek to bring things to pass in accordance with your wishes, but wish for them as they are, and you will find them."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, Will, Wishes

9

"There are two sides to every question."

"There are two sides to every question."

Protagoras, Greek Philosopher

9

"Even God lends a hand to honest boldness."

"Even God lends a hand to honest boldness."

Menander, Greek Poet

9

"Wise leaders generally have wise counselors because it takes a wise person themselves to distinguish them."

"Wise leaders generally have wise counselors because it takes a wise person themselves to distinguish them."

Diogenes of Sinope, Greek Philosopher

Leadership, Leaders

9

"Wealth stays with us a little moment if at all: only our characters are steadfast, not our gold."

"Wealth stays with us a little moment if at all: only our characters are steadfast, not our gold."

Euripides, Greek Poet

9

"Of all the varieties of virtues, liberalism is the most beloved."

"Of all the varieties of virtues, liberalism is the most beloved."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Politics, Liberalism

9

"All men whilst they are awake are in one common world: but each of them, when he is asleep, is in a world of his own."

"All men whilst they are awake are in one common world: but each of them, when he is asleep, is in a world of his own."

Plutarch, Greek Philosopher

Man, Men, World

9

"The man whose authority is recent is always stern."

"The man whose authority is recent is always stern."

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

9

"No intelligent man believes that anybody ever willingly errs or willingly does base and evil deeds; they are well aware that all who do base and evil things to them unwillingly."

"No intelligent man believes that anybody ever willingly errs or willingly does base and evil deeds; they are well aware that all who do base and evil things to them unwillingly."

Protagoras, Greek Philosopher

Life, Deeds, Evil, Man

9

"The sun too penetrates into privies, but is not polluted by them."

"The sun too penetrates into privies, but is not polluted by them."

Diogenes, Greek Philosopher

9

"Not what we have But what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance."

"Not what we have But what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance."

Epicurus, Greek Philosopher

Wealth, Abundance

9

"As a man, casting off worn out garments taketh new ones, so the dweller in the body, entereth into ones that are new."

"As a man, casting off worn out garments taketh new ones, so the dweller in the body, entereth into ones that are new."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Renewal, Life, Truth, Change

9

"OEDIPUS:O, O, O, they will all come,all come out clearly! Light of the sun, let melook upon you no more after today!I who first saw the light bred of a matchaccursed, and accursed in my livingwith them I lived with, cursed in my killing."

"OEDIPUS:O, O, O, they will all come,all come out clearly! Light of the sun, let melook upon you no more after today!I who first saw the light bred of a matchaccursed, and accursed in my livingwith them I lived with, cursed in my killing."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Literature, Fate, Tragedy, Life, Choice

9

"Here is the beginning of philosophy: a recognition of the conflicts between men a search for their cause a condemnation of mere opinion .. . and the discovery of a standard of judgement."

"Here is the beginning of philosophy: a recognition of the conflicts between men a search for their cause a condemnation of mere opinion .. . and the discovery of a standard of judgement."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Philosophy, Conflict, Judgment, Opinion

9

"Great deeds give choice of many tales. Choose a slight tale, enrich it large, and then let wise men listen."

"Great deeds give choice of many tales. Choose a slight tale, enrich it large, and then let wise men listen."

Pindar, Greek Poet

Man, Men, Choice, Deeds

9

"Trees, though they are cut and loped, grow up again quickly, but if men are destroyed, it is not easy to get them again."

"Trees, though they are cut and loped, grow up again quickly, but if men are destroyed, it is not easy to get them again."

Pericles, Greek Statesman

Man, Men, Trees

9

"Concern should drive us into action and not into a depression. No man is free who cannot control himself."

"Concern should drive us into action and not into a depression. No man is free who cannot control himself."

Pythagoras, Greek Mathematician

Action, Control, Concern, Depression

9

"For whatever be the knowledge which we are able to obtain of God, either by perception or reflection, we must of necessity believe that He is by many degrees far better than what we perceive Him to be."

"For whatever be the knowledge which we are able to obtain of God, either by perception or reflection, we must of necessity believe that He is by many degrees far better than what we perceive Him to be."

Origen, Greek Theologian

God, Knowledge, Perception, Necessity

9

"Much speech is one thing, well-timed speech is another."

"Much speech is one thing, well-timed speech is another."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Justice, Speech

9

"Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom."

"Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Self, Knowledge, Wisdom, Introspection

9

"To amuse oneself in order that one may exert oneself, as Anacharsis puts it, seems right; for amusement is a sort of relaxation, and we need relaxation because we cannot work continuously."

"To amuse oneself in order that one may exert oneself, as Anacharsis puts it, seems right; for amusement is a sort of relaxation, and we need relaxation because we cannot work continuously."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Balance, Relaxation, Work, Amusement

9

"Well begun is half done."

"Well begun is half done."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Action, Work, Completion, Effort, Success

9

"The truth is what I cherish and that's my strength."

"The truth is what I cherish and that's my strength."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Morality, Truth, Strength, Values, Principle

9

"Contentment is natural wealth, luxury is artificial poverty."

"Contentment is natural wealth, luxury is artificial poverty."

Socrates, Greek Philosopher

Philosophy, Contentment, Wealth, Life, Happiness

9

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