Quotes by Greek Authors | Beyond Motive 32/40

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Quotes by Greek Authors

"Four things belong to a judge: to hear courteously to answer wisely to consider soberly and to decide impartially."

"Four things belong to a judge: to hear courteously to answer wisely to consider soberly and to decide impartially."

Socrates, Greek Philosopher

Law, Justice, Decision, Judgment, Responsibility

14

"Nature does nothing in vain."

"Nature does nothing in vain."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Nature, Nothing

14

"If women are expected to do the same work as men, we must teach them the same things."

"If women are expected to do the same work as men, we must teach them the same things."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Equality, Work, Women, Men

14

"Now to exert oneself and work for the sake of amusement seems silly and utterly childish. But 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. Relaxation, then, is not an end; for it is taken for the sake of activity."

"Now to exert oneself and work for the sake of amusement seems silly and utterly childish. But 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. Relaxation, then, is not an end; for it is taken for the sake of activity."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Work, Leisure, Balance, Activity

14

"All terrible things are more terrible if they give us no chance of retrieving a blunder-either no chance at all, or only one that depends on our enemies and not ourselves. Those things are also worse which we cannot, or cannot easily, help. Speaking generally, anything causes us to feel fear that when it happens to, or threatens, others causes us to feel pity."

"All terrible things are more terrible if they give us no chance of retrieving a blunder-either no chance at all, or only one that depends on our enemies and not ourselves. Those things are also worse which we cannot, or cannot easily, help. Speaking generally, anything causes us to feel fear that when it happens to, or threatens, others causes us to feel pity."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Emotion, Fear, Pity, Help, Tragedy

14

"He is a drunkard who takes more than three glasses though he be not drunk."

"He is a drunkard who takes more than three glasses though he be not drunk."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Lifestyle, Moderation, Behavior, Health, Observation

14

"The wisest men follow their own direction."

"The wisest men follow their own direction."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Philosophy, Wisdom, Self, Independence, Direction

14

"There is a point at which even justice does injury."

"There is a point at which even justice does injury."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Justice, Injury

14

"The laws of nature are but the mathematical thoughts of God."

"The laws of nature are but the mathematical thoughts of God."

Euclid, Greek Scientist

Nature, God, Thoughts, Laws

14

"Then not only custom, but also nature affirms that to do is more disgraceful than to suffer injustice, and that justice is equality."

"Then not only custom, but also nature affirms that to do is more disgraceful than to suffer injustice, and that justice is equality."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Nature, Equality, Custom, Injustice

14

"Leave no stone unturned."

"Leave no stone unturned."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Life, Effort, Determination, Persistence, Advice

14

"But if I am young, thou shouldest look to my merits, not to my years."

"But if I am young, thou shouldest look to my merits, not to my years."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Youth, Observation, Merit, Life

14

"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light."

"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, Life, Men, Light, Tragedy

14

"What mortal claims, by searching to the utmost limit, to have found out the nature of God, or of his opposite, or of that which comes between, seeing as he doth this world of man tossed to and fro by waves of contradiction and strange vicissitudes?"

"What mortal claims, by searching to the utmost limit, to have found out the nature of God, or of his opposite, or of that which comes between, seeing as he doth this world of man tossed to and fro by waves of contradiction and strange vicissitudes?"

Euripides, Greek Poet

Philosophy, God, Humanity, Existence, Question

14

"I exhort you also to take part in the great combat, which is the combat of life, and greater than every other earthly conflict."

"I exhort you also to take part in the great combat, which is the combat of life, and greater than every other earthly conflict."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Leadership, Life, Conflict

14

"Not even Ares battles against necessity."

"Not even Ares battles against necessity."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Justice, Necessity

14

"States are as the men, they grow out of human characters."

"States are as the men, they grow out of human characters."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Politics, Men, States

14

"It's a terrible thing to speak well and be wrong."

"It's a terrible thing to speak well and be wrong."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

14

"To attain any assured knowledge about the soul is one of the most difficult things in the world."

"To attain any assured knowledge about the soul is one of the most difficult things in the world."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Philosophy, Soul, Knowledge, Difficulty, Understanding

14

"They do certainly give very strange, and newfangled, names to diseases."

"They do certainly give very strange, and newfangled, names to diseases."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

14

"Gone is the trust to be placed in oaths; I cannot understand if the gods you swore by then no longer rule, or men live by new standards of what is right."

"Gone is the trust to be placed in oaths; I cannot understand if the gods you swore by then no longer rule, or men live by new standards of what is right."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Philosophy, Trust, Standard, Truth, Observation

14

"I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self."

"I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Self-Control, Victory, Enemies, Self

14

"To go to the world below, having a soul which is like a vessel full of injustice, is the last and worst of all the evils."

"To go to the world below, having a soul which is like a vessel full of injustice, is the last and worst of all the evils."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Justice, Soul, Injustice, World

14

"Nothing could be more important than that the work of a soldier is well done. No tools will make a man a skilled workmen, or master of defense, or be of any use to him who has not learned how to handle them and has never bestowed any attention on them."

"Nothing could be more important than that the work of a soldier is well done. No tools will make a man a skilled workmen, or master of defense, or be of any use to him who has not learned how to handle them and has never bestowed any attention on them."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Duty, Work, Skill, Defense, Attention

14

"It was my care to make my life illustrious not by words more than by deeds."

"It was my care to make my life illustrious not by words more than by deeds."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Life, Care, Deeds, Words

14

"Oh, the torment bred in the race, the grinding scream of deathand the stroke that hits the vein,the hemorrhage none can staunch, the grief,the curse no man can bear.But there is a cure in the house, and not outside it, no,not from others but from them,their bloody strife. We sing to you,dark gods beneath the earth.Now hear, you blissful powers underground - answer the call, send help.Bless the children, give them triumph now."

"Oh, the torment bred in the race, the grinding scream of deathand the stroke that hits the vein,the hemorrhage none can staunch, the grief,the curse no man can bear.But there is a cure in the house, and not outside it, no,not from others but from them,their bloody strife. We sing to you,dark gods beneath the earth.Now hear, you blissful powers underground - answer the call, send help.Bless the children, give them triumph now."

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

Tragedy, Death, Grief, Prayer, Family

14

"Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods."

"Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Friendship, Friends

14

"Anyone can get angry, but to do this to the right person, to the right extent, at the right time, with the right motive, and in the right way, that is not for everyone, nor is it easy."

"Anyone can get angry, but to do this to the right person, to the right extent, at the right time, with the right motive, and in the right way, that is not for everyone, nor is it easy."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Virtue, Anger, Control, Time, Motive

14

"Chance never helps those who do not help themselves."

"Chance never helps those who do not help themselves."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Opportunity, Chance, Effort, Action

14

"Misfortune shows those who are not really friends."

"Misfortune shows those who are not really friends."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Friendship, Friends, Misfortune

14

"Heaven ne'er helps the men who will not act."

"Heaven ne'er helps the men who will not act."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Action, Responsibility, Truth, Observation

14

"It is a part of probability that many improbabilities will happen."

"It is a part of probability that many improbabilities will happen."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Reality, Chance, Fate, Possibility, Logic

14

"The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival."

"The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, Life, Power, Survival, Awareness

14

"It is unbecoming for young men to utter maxims."

"It is unbecoming for young men to utter maxims."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, Men, Maxims

14

"The eyes of the soul of the multitudes are unable to endure the vision of the divine."

"The eyes of the soul of the multitudes are unable to endure the vision of the divine."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Spiritual, Soul, Vision, Eyes

14

"The moral virtues, then, are produced in us neither by nature nor against nature. Nature, indeed, prepares in us the ground for their reception, but their complete formation is the product of habit."

"The moral virtues, then, are produced in us neither by nature nor against nature. Nature, indeed, prepares in us the ground for their reception, but their complete formation is the product of habit."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, Nature, Habit

14

"He who is not a good servant will not be a good master."

"He who is not a good servant will not be a good master."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Integrity, Will

14

"My advice to you is get married: if you find a good wife you'll be happy; if not, you'll become a philosopher."

"My advice to you is get married: if you find a good wife you'll be happy; if not, you'll become a philosopher."

Socrates, Greek Philosopher

Relationship, Marriage, Advice, Happiness, Choice

13

"He who wishes to serve his country must have not only the power to think, but the will to act."

"He who wishes to serve his country must have not only the power to think, but the will to act."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Duty, Service, Country, Power, Action

13

"In visions of the night, like dropping rain, Descend the many memories of pain."

"In visions of the night, like dropping rain, Descend the many memories of pain."

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

Remembrance, Memories, Pain, Night, Sadness

13

"There are two things a person should never be angry at, what they can help, and what they cannot."

"There are two things a person should never be angry at, what they can help, and what they cannot."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

13

"Rhetoric is the art of ruling the minds of men."

"Rhetoric is the art of ruling the minds of men."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Leadership, Art, Men, Rhetoric

13

"It is of the nature of desire not to be satisfied, and most men live only for the gratification of it."

"It is of the nature of desire not to be satisfied, and most men live only for the gratification of it."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Desire, Life, Human, Needs

13

"Take courage, my heart: you have been through worse than this. Be strong, saith my heart; I am a soldier; I have seen worse sights than this."

"Take courage, my heart: you have been through worse than this. Be strong, saith my heart; I am a soldier; I have seen worse sights than this."

Homer, Greek Poet

Courage, Strength, Heart, Survival

13

"Calligraphy is a geometry of the soul which manifests itself physically."

"Calligraphy is a geometry of the soul which manifests itself physically."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Art, Geometry, Soul, Manifestation

13

"Philosophy does not promise to secure anything external for man, otherwise it would be admitting something that lies beyond its proper subject-matter. For as the material of the carpenter is wood, and that of statuary bronze, so the subject-matter of the art of living is each person's own life."

"Philosophy does not promise to secure anything external for man, otherwise it would be admitting something that lies beyond its proper subject-matter. For as the material of the carpenter is wood, and that of statuary bronze, so the subject-matter of the art of living is each person's own life."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Philosophy, Life, Art, Experience

13

"Men are not afraid of things, but of how they view them."

"Men are not afraid of things, but of how they view them."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Psychology, Perception, Truth, Life, Observation

13

"It is not once nor twice but times without number that the same ideas make their appearance in the world."

"It is not once nor twice but times without number that the same ideas make their appearance in the world."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, Ideas, Appearance, World

13

"All human happiness or misery takes the form of action, the end for which we live is a certain kind of action."

"All human happiness or misery takes the form of action, the end for which we live is a certain kind of action."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Life, Happiness, Action, Misery

13

"How can you prove whether at this moment we are sleeping, and all our thoughts are a dream; or whether we are awake, and talking to one another in the waking state?"

"How can you prove whether at this moment we are sleeping, and all our thoughts are a dream; or whether we are awake, and talking to one another in the waking state?"

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, Dream, Thoughts, State, Talking

13

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