Quotes by Greek Authors | Beyond Motive 21/40

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Quotes by Greek Authors

"You cannot have a proud and chivalrous spirit if your conduct is mean and paltry; for whatever a man's actions are, such must be his spirit."

"You cannot have a proud and chivalrous spirit if your conduct is mean and paltry; for whatever a man's actions are, such must be his spirit."

Demosthenes, Greek Statesman

Action, Actions, Man, Spirit

30

"Having refuted, then, as well as we could, every notion which might suggest that we were to think of God as in any degree corporeal, we go on to say that, according to strict truth, God is incomprehensible, and incapable of being measured."

"Having refuted, then, as well as we could, every notion which might suggest that we were to think of God as in any degree corporeal, we go on to say that, according to strict truth, God is incomprehensible, and incapable of being measured."

Origen, Greek Theologian

God, Truth, Being

30

"Society is well governed when its people obey the magistrates, and the magistrates obey the law."

"Society is well governed when its people obey the magistrates, and the magistrates obey the law."

Solon, Greek Statesman

Society, People, Law

30

"Happy is the man whom the Muses love: sweet speech flows from his mouth."

"Happy is the man whom the Muses love: sweet speech flows from his mouth."

Hesiod, Greek Poet

30

"Not to unlearn what you have learned is the most necessary kind of learning."

"Not to unlearn what you have learned is the most necessary kind of learning."

Antisthenes, Greek Philosopher

30

"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

30

"Hateful to me as the gates of Hades is that man who hides one thing in his heart and speaks another."

"Hateful to me as the gates of Hades is that man who hides one thing in his heart and speaks another."

Homer, Greek Poet

30

"One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives."

"One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Friendship, Friend, Relatives, Worth

30

"If thy brother wrongs thee, remember not so much his wrong-doing, but more than ever that he is thy brother."

"If thy brother wrongs thee, remember not so much his wrong-doing, but more than ever that he is thy brother."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Relationship, Brother, Wrong, Wrongs

30

"Justice prevails over transgression when she comes to the end of the race."

"Justice prevails over transgression when she comes to the end of the race."

Hesiod, Greek Poet

Justice, End, Race

30

"A graceful and honorable old age is the childhood of immortality."

"A graceful and honorable old age is the childhood of immortality."

Pindar, Greek Poet

Age, Childhood, Immortality, Old

30

"The physical voice we use in prayer need not be great nor startling; even should we not lift up any great cry or shout, God will yet hear us."

"The physical voice we use in prayer need not be great nor startling; even should we not lift up any great cry or shout, God will yet hear us."

Origen, Greek Theologian

God, Prayer, Voice, Will

30

"Begin thus from the first act, and proceed; and, in conclusion, at the ill which thou hast done, be troubled, and rejoice for the good."

"Begin thus from the first act, and proceed; and, in conclusion, at the ill which thou hast done, be troubled, and rejoice for the good."

Pythagoras, Greek Mathematician

30

"A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love."

"A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love."

Saint Basil, Greek Saint

Friendship, Love, Courtesy, Deed

30

"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

30

"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

30

"A thought is an idea in transit."

"A thought is an idea in transit."

Pythagoras, Greek Mathematician

30

"It takes more than just a good looking body. You've got to have the heart and soul to go with it."

"It takes more than just a good looking body. You've got to have the heart and soul to go with it."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Strength, Soul, Heart, Body

30

"Nothing has more strength than dire necessity."

"Nothing has more strength than dire necessity."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Strength, Necessity, Nothing

30

"A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true."

"A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true."

Demosthenes, Greek Statesman

30

"Tyranny naturally arises out of democracy."

"Tyranny naturally arises out of democracy."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Politics, Democracy, Tyranny

30

"Rich people without wisdom and learning are but sheep with golden fleeces."

"Rich people without wisdom and learning are but sheep with golden fleeces."

Solon, Greek Statesman

Wisdom, People, Learning, Sheep

30

"Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world."

"Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world."

Archimedes, Greek Mathematician

30

"There are two sides to every question."

"There are two sides to every question."

Protagoras, Greek Philosopher

30

"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

30

"When states are democratically governed according to law, there are no demagogues, and the best citizens are securely in the saddle; but where the laws are not sovereign, there you find demagogues. The people become a monarch... such people, in its role as a monarch, not being controlled by law, aims at sole power and becomes like a master."

"When states are democratically governed according to law, there are no demagogues, and the best citizens are securely in the saddle; but where the laws are not sovereign, there you find demagogues. The people become a monarch... such people, in its role as a monarch, not being controlled by law, aims at sole power and becomes like a master."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Politics, Democracy, Law, People, Power

30

"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

30

"No enemy is worse than bad advice."

"No enemy is worse than bad advice."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

30

"It is only just that anything that grows up on its own should feel it has nothing to repay for an upbringing which it owes no one."

"It is only just that anything that grows up on its own should feel it has nothing to repay for an upbringing which it owes no one."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Autonomy, Growth, Independence, Justice, Life

30

"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

30

"Let no man be called happy before his death. Till then, he is not happy, only lucky."

"Let no man be called happy before his death. Till then, he is not happy, only lucky."

Solon, Greek Statesman

30

"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

30

"Now the true soldiers of Christ must always be prepared to do battle for the truth, and must never, so far as lies with them, allow false convictions to creep in."

"Now the true soldiers of Christ must always be prepared to do battle for the truth, and must never, so far as lies with them, allow false convictions to creep in."

Origen, Greek Theologian

Truth, Battle, Christ, Lies

30

"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

30

"This opinion, however, is held by most, that the devil was an angel, and that, having become an apostate, he induced as many of the angels as possible to fall away with himself, and these up to the present time are called his angels."

"This opinion, however, is held by most, that the devil was an angel, and that, having become an apostate, he induced as many of the angels as possible to fall away with himself, and these up to the present time are called his angels."

Origen, Greek Theologian

Time, Angels, Devil, Opinion

30

"Now our whole activity is devoted to God, and our whole life, since we are bent on progress in divine things."

"Now our whole activity is devoted to God, and our whole life, since we are bent on progress in divine things."

Origen, Greek Theologian

God, Life, Progress, Now

30

"No law or ordinance is mightier than understanding."

"No law or ordinance is mightier than understanding."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, Law, Understanding

30

"He who is of calm and happy nature will hardly feel the pressure of age, but to him who is of an opposite disposition youth and age are equally a burden."

"He who is of calm and happy nature will hardly feel the pressure of age, but to him who is of an opposite disposition youth and age are equally a burden."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, Age, Nature, Burden, Pressure

30

"'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

29

"There is only one theology, but there are many theologians."

"There is only one theology, but there are many theologians."

Athenagoras I, Greek Clergyman

29

"People who decide they came to earth to work, who make work their personal philosophy, are kept very busy."

"People who decide they came to earth to work, who make work their personal philosophy, are kept very busy."

Constantine Karamanlis, Greek Leader

Work, People, Earth, Philosophy

29

"Speech is the mirror of action."

"Speech is the mirror of action."

Solon, Greek Statesman

29

"We are given to the cult of personality; when things go badly we look to some messiah to save us. If by chance we think we have found one, it will not be long before we destroy him."

"We are given to the cult of personality; when things go badly we look to some messiah to save us. If by chance we think we have found one, it will not be long before we destroy him."

Constantine Karamanlis, Greek Leader

Chance, Personality, Will

29

"Time is the wisest counsellor of all."

"Time is the wisest counsellor of all."

Pericles, Greek Statesman

29

"Freedom is the right to live as we wish."

"Freedom is the right to live as we wish."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

29

"All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain."

"All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Philosophy, Lies, Words

29

"Calumny is only the noise of madmen."

"Calumny is only the noise of madmen."

Diogenes of Sinope, Greek Philosopher

Criticism, Calumny

29

"The wise learn many things from their enemies."

"The wise learn many things from their enemies."

Aristophanes, Greek Poet

29

"First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak."

"First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, First, Meaning

29

"If all things were made through Him, clearly so must the splendid revelations have been which were made to the fathers and prophets, and became to them the symbols of the sacred mysteries of religion."

"If all things were made through Him, clearly so must the splendid revelations have been which were made to the fathers and prophets, and became to them the symbols of the sacred mysteries of religion."

Origen, Greek Theologian

Religion, Fathers

29

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