Quotes by Greek Authors | Beyond Motive 37/38

"By far the greatest and most admirable form of wisdom is that needed to plan and beautify cities and human communities."

"By far the greatest and most admirable form of wisdom is that needed to plan and beautify cities and human communities."

Socrates, Greek Philosopher

Architecture, Wisdom, Planning, Community, Design

2

"There is also a third kind of madness, which is possession by the Muses, enters into a delicate and virgin soul, and there inspiring frenzy, awakens lyric....But he, who, not being inspired and having no touch of madness in his soul, comes to the door and thinks he will get into the temple by the help of art--he, I say, and his poetry are not admitted; the sane man is nowhere at all when he enters into rivalry with the madman."

"There is also a third kind of madness, which is possession by the Muses, enters into a delicate and virgin soul, and there inspiring frenzy, awakens lyric....But he, who, not being inspired and having no touch of madness in his soul, comes to the door and thinks he will get into the temple by the help of art--he, I say, and his poetry are not admitted; the sane man is nowhere at all when he enters into rivalry with the madman."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Inspirational, Madness, Poetry, Art

2

"For the best possible state of your soul, as I say to you: Wealth does not bring about excellence, but excellence makes wealth and everything else good for men, both individually and collectively."

"For the best possible state of your soul, as I say to you: Wealth does not bring about excellence, but excellence makes wealth and everything else good for men, both individually and collectively."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Virtue, Wealth, Excellence, Soul, Goodness

2

"A state is not a state if it belongs to one man."

"A state is not a state if it belongs to one man."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Man, State

2

"Whoever neglects the arts when he is young has lost the past and is dead to the future."

"Whoever neglects the arts when he is young has lost the past and is dead to the future."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Future, Past

2

"He is not only idle who does nothing but he is idle who might be better employed."

"He is not only idle who does nothing but he is idle who might be better employed."

Socrates, Greek Philosopher

Self, Idleness, Productivity, Motivational

2

"I see the state of all of us who live, nothing more than phantoms or a weightless shadow."

"I see the state of all of us who live, nothing more than phantoms or a weightless shadow."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Nothing, Shadow, State

2

"Can I by justice or by crooked ways of deceit ascend a loftier tower which may he a fortress to me all my days? For what men say is that, if I am really just and am not also thought just profit there is none, but the pain and loss on the other hand are unmistakable. But if, though unjust, I acquire the reputation of justice, a heavenly life is promised to me. Since then, as philosophers prove, appearance tyrannizes over truth and is lord of happiness, to appearance I must devote myself."

"Can I by justice or by crooked ways of deceit ascend a loftier tower which may he a fortress to me all my days? For what men say is that, if I am really just and am not also thought just profit there is none, but the pain and loss on the other hand are unmistakable. But if, though unjust, I acquire the reputation of justice, a heavenly life is promised to me. Since then, as philosophers prove, appearance tyrannizes over truth and is lord of happiness, to appearance I must devote myself."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Philosophy, Justice, Appearance, Deceit, Truth

2

"On the virtuous man "He combines the highest, lowest and middle chords in complete harmony within himself."

"On the virtuous man "He combines the highest, lowest and middle chords in complete harmony within himself."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Virtue, Harmony, Life, Man

2

"The State is like a great and noble steed who is tardy in his motions owing to his very size, and requires to be stirred into life. I am that gadfly which God has given the State and all day long and in all places am always fastening upon you, arousing and persuading and reproaching you. You will not easily find another like me."

"The State is like a great and noble steed who is tardy in his motions owing to his very size, and requires to be stirred into life. I am that gadfly which God has given the State and all day long and in all places am always fastening upon you, arousing and persuading and reproaching you. You will not easily find another like me."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Justice, State, God, Life

2

"It is more necessary for the soul to be cured than the body, for it is better to die than to live badly."

"It is more necessary for the soul to be cured than the body, for it is better to die than to live badly."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Spiritual, Soul, Health, Death, Well-Being

2

"A fearful man is always hearing things."

"A fearful man is always hearing things."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Fear, Hearing, Man

2

"Most people would rather give than get affection."

"Most people would rather give than get affection."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Love, People, Affection

2

"Men are swayed more by fear than by reverence."

"Men are swayed more by fear than by reverence."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Fear, Men

2

"In childbirth grief begins."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Life, Grief, Birth, Experience

2

"No one longs to live more than someone growing old."

"No one longs to live more than someone growing old."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Old,

2

"How dreadful knowledge of the truth can be when there's no help in the truth."

"How dreadful knowledge of the truth can be when there's no help in the truth."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Truth, Knowledge, Help

2

"TEIRESIAS:You have your eyes but see not where you arein sin, nor where you live, nor whom you live with.Do you know who your parents are? Unknowingyou are enemy to kith and kinin death, beneath the earth, and in this life."

"TEIRESIAS:You have your eyes but see not where you arein sin, nor where you live, nor whom you live with.Do you know who your parents are? Unknowingyou are enemy to kith and kinin death, beneath the earth, and in this life."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Awareness, Sin, Observation, Knowledge

2

"You should not consider a man's age but his acts."

"You should not consider a man's age but his acts."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Age, Man

2

"Not even Ares battles against necessity."

"Not even Ares battles against necessity."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Justice, Necessity

2

"What house, bloated with luxury, ever became prosperous without a woman's excellence?"

"What house, bloated with luxury, ever became prosperous without a woman's excellence?"

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Family, Excellence, Luxury, Woman

2

"A tragedy is a representation of an action that is whole and complete and of a certain magnitude. A whole is what has a beginning and middle and end."

"A tragedy is a representation of an action that is whole and complete and of a certain magnitude. A whole is what has a beginning and middle and end."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Philosophy, Action, Beginning, End, Tragedy

2

"Piety requires us to honor truth above our friends."

"Piety requires us to honor truth above our friends."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Friendship, Truth, Friends, Honor, Piety

2

"Fortune raises up and fortune brings low both the man who fares well and the one who fares badly; and there is no prophet of the future for mortal men."

"Fortune raises up and fortune brings low both the man who fares well and the one who fares badly; and there is no prophet of the future for mortal men."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Man, Men, Fortune, Future

2

"Again, where the people are absolute rulers of the land, they rejoice in having the openness and exuberance of youth, while a tyrant counts this a danger, and seeks to slay or silence those possessed of spirit, while the discreet fear his power and violence."

"Again, where the people are absolute rulers of the land, they rejoice in having the openness and exuberance of youth, while a tyrant counts this a danger, and seeks to slay or silence those possessed of spirit, while the discreet fear his power and violence."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Politics, Youth, Power, Tyranny, Freedom

2

"There was never a genius without a tincture of madness."

"There was never a genius without a tincture of madness."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, Genius, Madness

2

"Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting in a particular way."

"Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting in a particular way."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Identity, Men, Quality, Acting

2

"The rulers of the state are the only persons who ought to have the privilege of lying, either at home or abroad; they may be allowed to lie for the good of the state."

"The rulers of the state are the only persons who ought to have the privilege of lying, either at home or abroad; they may be allowed to lie for the good of the state."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Diplomacy, Home, Lie, Lying, May

2

"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

2

"Attention to health is life greatest hindrance."

"Attention to health is life greatest hindrance."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Health, Life, Attention

2

"When one with honeyed words but evil mindPersuades the mob, great woes befall the state."

"When one with honeyed words but evil mindPersuades the mob, great woes befall the state."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Society, Influence, Power, Deception, Politics

2

"Courage is a mean with regard to fear and confidence."

"Courage is a mean with regard to fear and confidence."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, Fear, Courage, Confidence

2

"Ignorant men don't know what good they hold in their hands until they've flung it away."

"Ignorant men don't know what good they hold in their hands until they've flung it away."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Man, Men

2

"The least initial deviation from the truth is multiplied later a thousandfold."

"The least initial deviation from the truth is multiplied later a thousandfold."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Truth,

2

"I could not turn away from anyone Like you, a stranger, or refuse to help him. I know well, being mortal, that my claimUpon the future is no more than yours."

"I could not turn away from anyone Like you, a stranger, or refuse to help him. I know well, being mortal, that my claimUpon the future is no more than yours."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Philosophy, Mortality, Help, Equality, Future

2

"A city is not adorned by external things, but by the virtue of those who dwell in it."

"A city is not adorned by external things, but by the virtue of those who dwell in it."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Society, City, Community, Values, People

2

"I see that all of us who live are nothing but images or insubstantial shadow."

"I see that all of us who live are nothing but images or insubstantial shadow."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Nothing, Shadow

2

"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

Humor, Names

2

"The measure of a man is what he does with power."

"The measure of a man is what he does with power."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Success, Power, Man, Measure

2

"Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees the others."

"Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees the others."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Courage, Quality, First

2

"The Muse herself makes some men inspired, from whom a chain of other men is strung out who catch their own inspiration from theirs."

"The Muse herself makes some men inspired, from whom a chain of other men is strung out who catch their own inspiration from theirs."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Inspirational, Creativity, Art, Influence

2

"Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several he will fail to achieve distinction in any."

"Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several he will fail to achieve distinction in any."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Excellence, Ability, Failure, Focus

2

"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

2

"The young are permanently in a state resembling intoxication."

"The young are permanently in a state resembling intoxication."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Life, State

2

"Without friends, no one would want to live, even if he had all other goods."

"Without friends, no one would want to live, even if he had all other goods."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Friendship, Friend, Life, Living, Support

2

"He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader."

"He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Leadership, Discipline, Responsibility, Guidance

2

"Bring your desires down to your present means. Increase them only when your increased means permit."

"Bring your desires down to your present means. Increase them only when your increased means permit."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, Present

2

"Physical excellence does not of itself produce a good mind and character: on the other hand, excellence of mind and character will make the best of the physique it is given."

"Physical excellence does not of itself produce a good mind and character: on the other hand, excellence of mind and character will make the best of the physique it is given."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Character, Mind, Excellence, Strength

2

"No reproach for a person willing to give honorable service in the passion to become wise."

"No reproach for a person willing to give honorable service in the passion to become wise."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, Service, Honor, Passion

2

"There's a victory, and defeat; the first and best of victories, the lowest and worst of defeats which each man gains or sustains at the hands not of another, but of himself."

"There's a victory, and defeat; the first and best of victories, the lowest and worst of defeats which each man gains or sustains at the hands not of another, but of himself."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Success, Victory, Defeat, First, Man