Quotes by Greek Authors | Beyond Motive 35/38

top of page

Quotes by Greek Authors

"Poetry is nearer to vital truth than history."

"Poetry is nearer to vital truth than history."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Truth, History, Poetry

2

"Life in accordance with intellect is best and pleasantest, since this, more than anything else, constitutes humanity."

"Life in accordance with intellect is best and pleasantest, since this, more than anything else, constitutes humanity."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Philosophy, Life, Intellect, Humanity, Reason

2

"It is our attitude toward events, not events themselves, which we can control. Nothing is by its own nature calamitous -- even death is terrible only if we fear it."

"It is our attitude toward events, not events themselves, which we can control. Nothing is by its own nature calamitous -- even death is terrible only if we fear it."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Philosophy, Attitude, Control, Perspective, Life

2

"We must pronounce him fortunate who has ended his life in fair prosperity."

"We must pronounce him fortunate who has ended his life in fair prosperity."

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

Life, Prosperity

2

"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

2

"The misuse of language induces evil in the soul."

"The misuse of language induces evil in the soul."

Socrates, Greek Philosopher

Expression, Language, Power, Observation, Truth

2

"If a person gave your body to any stranger he met on is way, you would certainly be angry. And do you feel no shame in handing over your own mind to be confused and mystified by anyone who happens to verbally attack you?"

"If a person gave your body to any stranger he met on is way, you would certainly be angry. And do you feel no shame in handing over your own mind to be confused and mystified by anyone who happens to verbally attack you?"

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Philosophy, Mind, Awareness, Responsibility, Truth

2

"All good and evil, whether in the body or in human nature, originates in the soul, and overflows from thence, as if from the head into the eyes."

"All good and evil, whether in the body or in human nature, originates in the soul, and overflows from thence, as if from the head into the eyes."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Morality, Soul, Evil, Body, Nature

2

"Excellence, then, is a state concerned with choice, lying in a mean, relative to us, this being determined by reason and in the way in which the man of practical wisdom would determine it."

"Excellence, then, is a state concerned with choice, lying in a mean, relative to us, this being determined by reason and in the way in which the man of practical wisdom would determine it."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Success, Wisdom, Being, Choice, Excellence

2

"Criticism is something you can easily avoid by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing."

"Criticism is something you can easily avoid by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Criticism, Inaction, Nothing, Silence

2

"When you do anything from a clear judgment that it ought to be done, never shrink from being seen to do it, even though the world should misunderstand it; for if you are not acting rightly, shun the action itself; if you are, why fear those who wrongly censure you?"

"When you do anything from a clear judgment that it ought to be done, never shrink from being seen to do it, even though the world should misunderstand it; for if you are not acting rightly, shun the action itself; if you are, why fear those who wrongly censure you?"

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Self-Help, Action, Judgment, Morality, Observation

2

"Shall not ILearn place and wisdom? Have I not learned this,Only so much to hate my enemy,As though he might again become my friend,And so much good to wish to do my friend,As knowing he may yet become my foe?"

"Shall not ILearn place and wisdom? Have I not learned this,Only so much to hate my enemy,As though he might again become my friend,And so much good to wish to do my friend,As knowing he may yet become my foe?"

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Philosophy, Learning, Wisdom, Friendship, Reflection

2

"There is something in the pang of change More than the heart can bear, Unhappiness remembering happiness."

"There is something in the pang of change More than the heart can bear, Unhappiness remembering happiness."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Life, Change, Pain, Memory, Loss

2

"Practice yourself in little things and thence proceed to greater."

"Practice yourself in little things and thence proceed to greater."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Growth, Practice, Discipline, Improvement

2

"1 loathe a friend ... who takes his friend's prosperity but will not voyage with him in his grief."

"1 loathe a friend ... who takes his friend's prosperity but will not voyage with him in his grief."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Relationship, Friendship, Support, Loyalty, Empathy

2

"For as the eyes of bats are to the blaze of day, so is the reason in our soul to the things which are by nature most evident of all."

"For as the eyes of bats are to the blaze of day, so is the reason in our soul to the things which are by nature most evident of all."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Philosophy, Nature, Soul, Day, Eyes

2

"Thou wilt find rest from vain fancies if thou doest every act in life as though it were thy last."

"Thou wilt find rest from vain fancies if thou doest every act in life as though it were thy last."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, Life, Act, Rest

2

"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

2

"Excessive fear is always powerless."

"Excessive fear is always powerless."

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

2

"It is in the character of very few men to honor without envy a friend who has prospered."

"It is in the character of very few men to honor without envy a friend who has prospered."

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

Friendship, Men, Friend, Character, Envy

2

"The pleasures arising from thinking and learning will make us think and learn all the more."

"The pleasures arising from thinking and learning will make us think and learn all the more."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Learning, Joy, Thinking, Mind

2

"Who can stop grief's avalanche once it starts to roll."

"Who can stop grief's avalanche once it starts to roll."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Emotion, Grief, Sorrow, Life

2

"A man who really fights for justice must lead a private, not a public, life if he is to survive for even a short time."

"A man who really fights for justice must lead a private, not a public, life if he is to survive for even a short time."

Socrates, Greek Philosopher

Justice, Integrity, Life, Truth

2

"Knowledge unqualified is knowledge simply of something learned."

"Knowledge unqualified is knowledge simply of something learned."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Learning, Knowledge, Information, Understanding

2

"The most important part of education is proper training in the nursery."

"The most important part of education is proper training in the nursery."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Education, Training

2

"Know thyself."

"Know thyself."

Socrates, Greek Philosopher

Philosophy, Self, Knowledge, Awareness

2

"Men do not become tyrants in order that they may not suffer cold."

"Men do not become tyrants in order that they may not suffer cold."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Power, Pain, Suffering, Needs

2

"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind."

"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Business, Jobs, Mind

2

"The keenest sorrow is to recognize ourselves as the sole cause of all our adversities."

"The keenest sorrow is to recognize ourselves as the sole cause of all our adversities."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

2

"The first and greatest victory is to conquer yourself; to be conquered by yourself is of all things most shameful and vile."

"The first and greatest victory is to conquer yourself; to be conquered by yourself is of all things most shameful and vile."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Self-Control, Victory, First

2

"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

2

"The many are more incorruptible than the few, they are like the greater quantity of water which is less easily corrupted than a little."

"The many are more incorruptible than the few, they are like the greater quantity of water which is less easily corrupted than a little."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Politics, Democracy, Corruption, Power, Justice

2

"In a democracy the poor will have more power than the rich, because there are more of them, and the will of the majority is supreme."

"In a democracy the poor will have more power than the rich, because there are more of them, and the will of the majority is supreme."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Democracy, Power, Majority, Poor

2

"Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws."

"Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Justice, People, Act, Laws, Will

2

"Enjoy yourself drink call the life you live today your own-but only that the rest belongs to chance."

"Enjoy yourself drink call the life you live today your own-but only that the rest belongs to chance."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Lifestyle, Enjoyment, Life, Chance, Freedom

2

"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

2

"These virtues are formed in man by his doing the actions ... The good of man is a working of the soul in the way of excellence in a complete life."

"These virtues are formed in man by his doing the actions ... The good of man is a working of the soul in the way of excellence in a complete life."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Virtue, Action, Excellence, Soul

2

"For children preserve the fame of a man after his death."

"For children preserve the fame of a man after his death."

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

Death, Children, Fame, Man

2

"What is there more kindly than the feeling between host and guest?"

"What is there more kindly than the feeling between host and guest?"

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

Emotional, Feeling, Guest

2

"It is not so much what happens to you as how you think about what happens."

"It is not so much what happens to you as how you think about what happens."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Philosophy, Perspective, Thought, Attitude, Truth

2

"Freedom is the only worthy goal in life. It is won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control."

"Freedom is the only worthy goal in life. It is won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Freedom, Choice, Life, Empowerment

2

"So when the crisis is upon you remember that God like a trainer of wrestlers has matched you with a tough and stalwart antagonist... that you may prove a victor at the Great Games."

"So when the crisis is upon you remember that God like a trainer of wrestlers has matched you with a tough and stalwart antagonist... that you may prove a victor at the Great Games."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Spiritual, Faith, Strength, Resilience, Victory

2

"He who can be, and therefore is, another's, and he who participates in reason enough to apprehend, but not to have, is a slave by nature."

"He who can be, and therefore is, another's, and he who participates in reason enough to apprehend, but not to have, is a slave by nature."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, Nature, Reason

2

"Of all our possessions, wisdom alone is imortal."

"Of all our possessions, wisdom alone is imortal."

Isocrates, Greek Writer

Wisdom, Possessions

2

"It is not in words that I should wish my life to be distinguished, but rather in things done."

"It is not in words that I should wish my life to be distinguished, but rather in things done."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Action, Impact, Life, Achievement

2

"Now I see that going out into the testing ground of men it is the tongue and not the deed that wins the day."

"Now I see that going out into the testing ground of men it is the tongue and not the deed that wins the day."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Man, Men, Day, Deed, Now

2

"Heaven ne'er helps the man who will not help himself."

"Heaven ne'er helps the man who will not help himself."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Motivation, Self-Help, Responsibility, Success, Life

2

"Of all creatures that can feel and think,we women are the worst treated things alive."

"Of all creatures that can feel and think,we women are the worst treated things alive."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Social, Gender, Equality, Observation, Behavior

2

"There is one way, then, in which a man can be free from all anxiety about the fate of his soul - if in life he has abandoned bodily pleasures and adornments, as foreign to his purpose and likely to do more harm than good, and has devoted himself to the pleasures of acquiring knowledge, and so by decking his soul not with a borrowed beauty but with its own - with self-control, and goodness, and courage, and liberality, and truth - has fitted himself to await his journey in the next world."

"There is one way, then, in which a man can be free from all anxiety about the fate of his soul - if in life he has abandoned bodily pleasures and adornments, as foreign to his purpose and likely to do more harm than good, and has devoted himself to the pleasures of acquiring knowledge, and so by decking his soul not with a borrowed beauty but with its own - with self-control, and goodness, and courage, and liberality, and truth - has fitted himself to await his journey in the next world."

Socrates, Greek Philosopher

Philosophy, Self-Control, Knowledge, Goodness, Courage

2

"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

2

bottom of page