Quotes by Greek Authors | Beyond Motive 31/40

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Quotes by Greek Authors

"It's like this, I think: the excellence of a good body doesn't make the soul good, but the other way around: the excellence of a good soul makes the body as good as it can be."

"It's like this, I think: the excellence of a good body doesn't make the soul good, but the other way around: the excellence of a good soul makes the body as good as it can be."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Virtue, Soul, Excellence, Body, Character

14

"Equity bids us be merciful to the weakness of human nature; to think less about the laws than about the man who framed them, and less about what he said than about what he meant; not to consider the actions of the accused so much as his intentions; nor this or that detail so much as the whole story; to ask not what a man is now but what he has always or usually been."

"Equity bids us be merciful to the weakness of human nature; to think less about the laws than about the man who framed them, and less about what he said than about what he meant; not to consider the actions of the accused so much as his intentions; nor this or that detail so much as the whole story; to ask not what a man is now but what he has always or usually been."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Law, Mercy, Intention, Character

14

"Only the educated are free."

"Only the educated are free."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Education, Freedom, Knowledge, Empowerment

14

"The tongue of man is a twisty thing."

"The tongue of man is a twisty thing."

Homer, Greek Poet

Communication, Language, Truth, Observation, Power

14

"Evil counsel travels fast."

"Evil counsel travels fast."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

14

"Self-conquest is the greatest of victories."

"Self-conquest is the greatest of victories."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Success, Victory, Self, Conquest, Life

14

"The reason is that they utter these words of theirs not by virtue of a skill, but by a divine power - otherwise, if they knew how to speak well on one topic thanks to a skill, they would know how to speak about every other topic too."

"The reason is that they utter these words of theirs not by virtue of a skill, but by a divine power - otherwise, if they knew how to speak well on one topic thanks to a skill, they would know how to speak about every other topic too."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Knowledge, Word, Skill, Divine, Power

14

"It is clearly better that property should be private, but the use of it common; and the special business of the legislator is to create in men this benevolent disposition."

"It is clearly better that property should be private, but the use of it common; and the special business of the legislator is to create in men this benevolent disposition."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Freedom, Business, Men, Property

14

"Iron has powers to draw a man to ruin."

"Iron has powers to draw a man to ruin."

Homer, Greek Poet

Temptation, Ruin, Power, Desire

14

"Life contains but two tragedies. One is not to get your heart's desire the other is to get it."

"Life contains but two tragedies. One is not to get your heart's desire the other is to get it."

Socrates, Greek Philosopher

Philosophy, Tragedy, Desire, Life

14

"Virtue is relative to the actions and ages of each of us in all that we do."

"Virtue is relative to the actions and ages of each of us in all that we do."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Friendship, Virtue, Actions

14

"Must not all things at the last be swallowed up in death?"

"Must not all things at the last be swallowed up in death?"

Plato, Greek Philosopher

14

"It is a painful thing to look at your own trouble and know that you yourself and no one else has made it."

"It is a painful thing to look at your own trouble and know that you yourself and no one else has made it."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Life, Responsibility, Suffering, Self, Awareness

14

"Don't put your purpose in one place and expect to see progress made somewhere else."

"Don't put your purpose in one place and expect to see progress made somewhere else."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Purpose, Focus, Progress, Commitment

14

"The educated differ from the uneducated as much as the living from the dead."

"The educated differ from the uneducated as much as the living from the dead."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Education, Living

14

"Nothing forces us to knowWhat we do not want to knowExcept pain."

"Nothing forces us to knowWhat we do not want to knowExcept pain."

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

Pain, Knowledge, Truth, Suffering

14

"Wise to resolve, and patient to perform."

"Wise to resolve, and patient to perform."

Homer, Greek Poet

Determination, Wisdom, Patience, Resolution, Action

14

"To run away from trouble is a form of cowardice and, while it is true that the suicide braves death, he does it not for some noble object but to escape some ill."

"To run away from trouble is a form of cowardice and, while it is true that the suicide braves death, he does it not for some noble object but to escape some ill."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Courage, Death, Cowardice, Suicide, Trouble

14

"If you try to cure evil with evilyou will add more pain to your fate."

"If you try to cure evil with evilyou will add more pain to your fate."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Morality, Evil, Life, Observation

14

"There is nothing more admirable than when two people who see eye to eye keep house as man and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends."

"There is nothing more admirable than when two people who see eye to eye keep house as man and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends."

Homer, Greek Poet

Relationship, Love, Marriage, Truth, Happiness

14

"The law is reason, free from passion."

"The law is reason, free from passion."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Justice, Law, Passion, Reason

14

"It is an ill thing to be the first to bring news of ill."

"It is an ill thing to be the first to bring news of ill."

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

Delivering, First, News

14

"Ah my friend, if you and I could escape this fray and live forever, never a trace of age, immortal, I would never fight on the front lines again or command you to the field where men win fame."

"Ah my friend, if you and I could escape this fray and live forever, never a trace of age, immortal, I would never fight on the front lines again or command you to the field where men win fame."

Homer, Greek Poet

Heroism, War, Immortality, Desire, Fate

14

"People are not disturbed by things, but by the view they take of them."

"People are not disturbed by things, but by the view they take of them."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

14

"By all means marry; if you get a good wife, you'll become happy; if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher."

"By all means marry; if you get a good wife, you'll become happy; if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher."

Socrates, Greek Philosopher

Life, Happiness, Marriage, Choice, Philosophy

14

"It is just that we should be grateful, not only to those with whose views we may agree, but also to those who have expressed more superficial views; for these also contributed something, by developing before us the powers of thought."

"It is just that we should be grateful, not only to those with whose views we may agree, but also to those who have expressed more superficial views; for these also contributed something, by developing before us the powers of thought."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, Thought, May

14

"The end toward which all human acts are directed is happiness."

"The end toward which all human acts are directed is happiness."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Happiness, Goal, Action, Human

14

"Foolishness is indeed the sister of wickedness."

"Foolishness is indeed the sister of wickedness."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Family, Sister, Foolishness, Wickedness

14

"The most perfect political community is one in which the middle class is in control, and outnumbers both of the other classes."

"The most perfect political community is one in which the middle class is in control, and outnumbers both of the other classes."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Politics, Control, Class, Community, Middleclass

14

"In the long run, every man will pay the penalty for his own misdeeds. The man who remembers this will be angry with no one, indignant with no one, revile no one, blame no one, offend no one, hate no one."

"In the long run, every man will pay the penalty for his own misdeeds. The man who remembers this will be angry with no one, indignant with no one, revile no one, blame no one, offend no one, hate no one."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Ethics, Responsibility, Morality, Justice, Anger

14

"I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning to sail my ship."

"I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning to sail my ship."

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

Learning, Storms

14

"Different men seek ... happiness in different ways and by different means."

"Different men seek ... happiness in different ways and by different means."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Happiness, Choice, Individual, Meaning

14

"What really frightens and dismays us is not external events themselves, but the way in which we think about them. It is not things that disturb us, but our interpretation of their significance."

"What really frightens and dismays us is not external events themselves, but the way in which we think about them. It is not things that disturb us, but our interpretation of their significance."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Philosophy, Perception, Fear, Observation, Life

14

"Not yet do you feel it. Wait for the future."

"Not yet do you feel it. Wait for the future."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Philosophy, Patience, Future, Time, Awareness

14

"Our happiness depends on wisdom all the way."

"Our happiness depends on wisdom all the way."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Happiness, Wisdom

14

"Let my heart be wise. It is the gods' best gift."

"Let my heart be wise. It is the gods' best gift."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Spiritual, Wisdom, Heart, Divinity, Faith

14

"Inferiors revolt in order that they may be equal, and equals that they may be superior. Such is the state of mind which creates revolutions."

"Inferiors revolt in order that they may be equal, and equals that they may be superior. Such is the state of mind which creates revolutions."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Politics, May, Mind, Order, State

14

"I know how men in exile feed on dreams."

"I know how men in exile feed on dreams."

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

Dream, Dreams, Men

14

"Positive Thinking Is Practical There is in the worst of fortune the best of chances for a happy change."

"Positive Thinking Is Practical There is in the worst of fortune the best of chances for a happy change."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Motivation, Hope, Change, Happiness, Opportunity

14

"He is a man of sense who does not grieve for what he has not but rejoices in what he has."

"He is a man of sense who does not grieve for what he has not but rejoices in what he has."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Life, Gratitude, Happiness, Contentment

14

"Democracy is when the indigent, and not the men of property, are the rulers."

"Democracy is when the indigent, and not the men of property, are the rulers."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Democracy, Men, Property

14

"That mortal is a fool who, prospering, thinks his life has any strong foundation; since our fortune's course of action is the reeling way a madman takes, and no one person is ever happy all the time."

"That mortal is a fool who, prospering, thinks his life has any strong foundation; since our fortune's course of action is the reeling way a madman takes, and no one person is ever happy all the time."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Philosophy, Fortune, Life, Uncertainty, Reflection

14

"Happiness greatness pride-nothing is secure nothing keeps."

"Happiness greatness pride-nothing is secure nothing keeps."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Philosophy, Happiness, Greatness, Pride, Uncertainty

14

"Come back. Even as a shadow, even as a dream."

"Come back. Even as a shadow, even as a dream."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Emotions, Hope, Memory, Dream, Love

14

"Not life, but good life, is to be chiefly valued."

"Not life, but good life, is to be chiefly valued."

Socrates, Greek Philosopher

14

"Courage is a kind of salvation."

"Courage is a kind of salvation."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Courage, Salvation

14

"One man two loves. No good ever comes of that."

"One man two loves. No good ever comes of that."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Love, Conflict, Desire, Emotion

14

"There is no disgrace in an enemy suffering ill at an enemy's hand, when you hate mutually."

"There is no disgrace in an enemy suffering ill at an enemy's hand, when you hate mutually."

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

Conflict, Disgrace, Enemy, Hate, Suffering

14

"Bodily exercise, when compulsory, does no harm to the body; but knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind."

"Bodily exercise, when compulsory, does no harm to the body; but knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Philosophy, Knowledge, Mind, Discipline, Freedom

14

"Search well and be wise, nor believe that self-willed pride will ever be better than good counsel."

"Search well and be wise, nor believe that self-willed pride will ever be better than good counsel."

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

Wisdom, Pride, Self, Will

14

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