Quotes by Greek Authors | Beyond Motive 22/38

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Quotes by Greek Authors

"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

"Very little is needed for everything to be upset and ruined, only a slight lapse in reason."

"Very little is needed for everything to be upset and ruined, only a slight lapse in reason."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Logic, Reason, Observation, Mistake

9

"What most counts is not to live but to live aright."

"What most counts is not to live but to live aright."

Socrates, Greek Philosopher

Philosophy, Ethics, Morality, Life, Choice

9

"I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion."

"I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion."

Alexander the Great, Greek Leader

Leadership, Army, Sheep

9

"Every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and choice, is thought to aim at some good; and for this reason the good has rightly been declared to be that at which all things aim."

"Every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and choice, is thought to aim at some good; and for this reason the good has rightly been declared to be that at which all things aim."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Philosophy, Art, Thought, Action, Choice

9

"In giving advice seek to help, not to please, your friend."

"In giving advice seek to help, not to please, your friend."

Solon, Greek Statesman

Friendship, Friend, Advice, Giving, Help

9

"No notice is taken of a little evil, but when it increases it strikes the eye."

"No notice is taken of a little evil, but when it increases it strikes the eye."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Time, Evil, Eye

9

"Example is the best precept."

"Example is the best precept."

Aesop, Greek Author

Influence, Example

9

"The person who has the will to undergo all labor may win any goal."

"The person who has the will to undergo all labor may win any goal."

Menander, Greek Poet

Goal, Labor, May, Will

9

"I am dying with the help of too many physicians."

"I am dying with the help of too many physicians."

Alexander the Great, Greek Leader

Health, Dying, Help, Physicians

9

"Call no man happy till he is dead."

"Call no man happy till he is dead."

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

9

"'Know thyself' is a good saying, but not in all situations. In many it is better to say 'know others.'"

"'Know thyself' is a good saying, but not in all situations. In many it is better to say 'know others.'"

Menander, Greek Poet

9

"And further, observing that all this indeterminate substance is in motion, and that no true predication can be made of that which changes, they supposed that it is impossible to make any true statement about that which is in all ways and entirely changeable. For it was from this supposition that there blossomed forth the most extreme view of those which we have mentioned, that of the professed followers of Heraclitus, and such as Cratylus held, who ended by thinking that one need not say anything, and only moved his finger; and who criticized Heraclitus for saying that one cannot enter the same river twice, for he himself held that it cannot be done even once."

"And further, observing that all this indeterminate substance is in motion, and that no true predication can be made of that which changes, they supposed that it is impossible to make any true statement about that which is in all ways and entirely changeable. For it was from this supposition that there blossomed forth the most extreme view of those which we have mentioned, that of the professed followers of Heraclitus, and such as Cratylus held, who ended by thinking that one need not say anything, and only moved his finger; and who criticized Heraclitus for saying that one cannot enter the same river twice, for he himself held that it cannot be done even once."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Philosophy, Change, Truth, Movement

9

"My friends gave me the first songs which was the first food in my soul for me."

"My friends gave me the first songs which was the first food in my soul for me."

Nana Mouskouri, Greek Musician

Food, Soul, First, Friends

9

"The void is 'not-being,' and no part of 'what is' is a 'not-being,'; for what 'is' in the strict sense of the term is an absolute plenum. This plenum, however, is not 'one': on the contrary, it is a 'many' infinite in number and invisible owing to the minuteness of their bulk."

"The void is 'not-being,' and no part of 'what is' is a 'not-being,'; for what 'is' in the strict sense of the term is an absolute plenum. This plenum, however, is not 'one': on the contrary, it is a 'many' infinite in number and invisible owing to the minuteness of their bulk."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Being, Existence, Philosophy, Reality

9

"A man, though wise, should never be ashamed of learning more, and must unbend his mind."

"A man, though wise, should never be ashamed of learning more, and must unbend his mind."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Wisdom, Learning, Knowledge, Observation

9

"For the introduction of a new kind of music must be shunned as imperiling the whole state; since styles of music are never disturbed without affecting the most important political institutions."

"For the introduction of a new kind of music must be shunned as imperiling the whole state; since styles of music are never disturbed without affecting the most important political institutions."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Politics, Music, State

9

"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

9

"Many exceedingly rich men are unhappy, but many middling circumstances are fortunate."

"Many exceedingly rich men are unhappy, but many middling circumstances are fortunate."

Herodotus, Greek Historian

Man, Men, Circumstances

9

"For Time calls only once, and that determines all."

"For Time calls only once, and that determines all."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Philosophy, Time, Fate, Decision, Reflection

9

"To succeed in business it is necessary to make others see things as you see them."

"To succeed in business it is necessary to make others see things as you see them."

Aristotle Onassis, Greek Businessman

Leadership, Business, Succeed

9

"We secure our friends not by accepting favors but by doing them."

"We secure our friends not by accepting favors but by doing them."

Thucydides, Greek Historian

Friendship, Favors, Friends

8

"It is the task of the enlightened not only to ascend to learning and to see the good but to be willing to descend again to those prisoners and to share their troubles and their honors, whether they are worth having or not. And this they must do, even with the prospect of death."

"It is the task of the enlightened not only to ascend to learning and to see the good but to be willing to descend again to those prisoners and to share their troubles and their honors, whether they are worth having or not. And this they must do, even with the prospect of death."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Philosophy, Enlightenment, Duty, Learning, Justice

8

"Not every truth is the better for showing its face undisguised; and often silence is the wisest thing for a man to heed."

"Not every truth is the better for showing its face undisguised; and often silence is the wisest thing for a man to heed."

Pindar, Greek Poet

Truth, Man, Silence

8

"Men would live exceedingly quiet if these two words, mine and thine, were taken away."

"Men would live exceedingly quiet if these two words, mine and thine, were taken away."

Anaxagoras, Greek Philosopher

Man, Men, Quiet, Words

8

"Silence is true wisdom's best reply."

"Silence is true wisdom's best reply."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Wisdom, Silence

8

"No human being will ever know the Truth, for even if they happen to say it by chance, they would not even known they had done so."

"No human being will ever know the Truth, for even if they happen to say it by chance, they would not even known they had done so."

Xenophanes, Greek Philosopher

Truth, Being, Chance, Will

8

"It is terrible to speak well and be wrong."

"It is terrible to speak well and be wrong."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

8

"Nothing in the affairs of men is worthy of great anxiety."

"Nothing in the affairs of men is worthy of great anxiety."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Attitude, Men, Anxiety, Nothing

8

"He who eats with most pleasure is he who least requires sauce."

"He who eats with most pleasure is he who least requires sauce."

Xenophon, Greek Soldier

8

"Modesty is the color of virtue."

"Modesty is the color of virtue."

Diogenes of Sinope, Greek Philosopher

Virtue, Modesty

8

"It is absurd to hold that a man should be ashamed of an inability to defend himself with his limbs, but not ashamed of an inability to defend himself with speech and reason; for the use of rational speech is more distinctive of a human being than the use of his limbs."

"It is absurd to hold that a man should be ashamed of an inability to defend himself with his limbs, but not ashamed of an inability to defend himself with speech and reason; for the use of rational speech is more distinctive of a human being than the use of his limbs."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Rhetoric, Shame, Defense, Speech, Reason

8

"To mourn and bewail your ill-fortune, when you will gain a tear from those who listen, this is worth the trouble."

"To mourn and bewail your ill-fortune, when you will gain a tear from those who listen, this is worth the trouble."

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

Gain, Trouble, Will, Worth

8

"OEDIPUS: Upon the murderer I invoke this curse-whether he is one man and all unknown, or one of many- may he wear out his life in misery to miserable doom! If with my knowledge he lives at my hearthI pray that I myself may feel my curse. On you I lay my charge to fulfill all this for me, for the God, and for this land of ours destroyed and blighted, by the God forsaken."

"OEDIPUS: Upon the murderer I invoke this curse-whether he is one man and all unknown, or one of many- may he wear out his life in misery to miserable doom! If with my knowledge he lives at my hearthI pray that I myself may feel my curse. On you I lay my charge to fulfill all this for me, for the God, and for this land of ours destroyed and blighted, by the God forsaken."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Morality, Justice, Emotion, Power, Truth

8

"Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives - choice, not chance, determines your destiny."

"Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives - choice, not chance, determines your destiny."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Success, Excellence, Intention, Effort, Choice

8

"You may be always victorious if you will never enter into any contest where the issue does not wholly depend upon yourself."

"You may be always victorious if you will never enter into any contest where the issue does not wholly depend upon yourself."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Success, May, Will

8

"We should look to the mind, and not to the outward appearance."

"We should look to the mind, and not to the outward appearance."

Aesop, Greek Author

Character, Appearance, Mind

8

"Prosperity is full of friends."

"Prosperity is full of friends."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Friendship, Friends, Prosperity

8

"A friend is one soul abiding in two bodies."

"A friend is one soul abiding in two bodies."

Diogenes, Greek Philosopher

Friendship, Soul, Friend

8

"Among mortals second thoughts are wisest."

"Among mortals second thoughts are wisest."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Thought, Thoughts

8

"But I don't think we shall quarrel about a word - the subject of our inquiry is too important for that."

"But I don't think we shall quarrel about a word - the subject of our inquiry is too important for that."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Dialogue, Inquiry, Word, Debate, Truth

8

"This also is a part of the teaching of the Church, that there are certain angels of God, and certain good influences, which are His servants in accomplishing the salvation of men."

"This also is a part of the teaching of the Church, that there are certain angels of God, and certain good influences, which are His servants in accomplishing the salvation of men."

Origen, Greek Theologian

Men, God, Church, Angels

8

"The wise learn many things from their enemies."

"The wise learn many things from their enemies."

Aristophanes, Greek Poet

8

"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

8

"The two powers which in my opinion constitute a wise man are those of bearing and forbearing."

"The two powers which in my opinion constitute a wise man are those of bearing and forbearing."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, Man, Opinion

8

"He is richest who is content with the least, for content is the wealth of nature."

"He is richest who is content with the least, for content is the wealth of nature."

Socrates, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, Nature, Wealth, Content

8

"If virtue promises happiness, prosperity and peace, then progress in virtue is progress in each of these for to whatever point the perfection of anything brings us, progress is always an approach toward it."

"If virtue promises happiness, prosperity and peace, then progress in virtue is progress in each of these for to whatever point the perfection of anything brings us, progress is always an approach toward it."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, Happiness, Peace, Progress, Virtue

8

"Medicine to produce health must examine disease; and music, to create harmony must investigate discord."

"Medicine to produce health must examine disease; and music, to create harmony must investigate discord."

Plutarch, Greek Philosopher

Health, Music, Disease, Harmony

8

"As to gods, I have no way of knowing either that they exist or do not exist, or what they are like."

"As to gods, I have no way of knowing either that they exist or do not exist, or what they are like."

Protagoras, Greek Philosopher

8

"The Athenians are right to accept advice from anyone, since it is incumbent on everyone to share in that sort of excellence, or else there can be no city at all."

"The Athenians are right to accept advice from anyone, since it is incumbent on everyone to share in that sort of excellence, or else there can be no city at all."

Protagoras, Greek Philosopher

Advice, Excellence, Right

8

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