Quotes by Greek Authors | Beyond Motive 4/40

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Quotes by Greek Authors

"If all misfortunes were laid in one common heap whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be contented to take their own and depart."

"If all misfortunes were laid in one common heap whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be contented to take their own and depart."

Socrates, Greek Philosopher

Equality, People

35

"I would prefer even to fail with honor than win by cheating."

"I would prefer even to fail with honor than win by cheating."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Integrity, Cheating, Honor

35

"It is with our passions as it is with fire and water, they are good servants, but bad masters."

"It is with our passions as it is with fire and water, they are good servants, but bad masters."

Aesop, Greek Author

Self-control, Fire, Water

35

"Do not talk a little on many subjects, but much on a few."

"Do not talk a little on many subjects, but much on a few."

Pythagoras, Greek Mathematician

35

"No man ever wetted clay and then left it, as if there would be bricks by chance and fortune."

"No man ever wetted clay and then left it, as if there would be bricks by chance and fortune."

Plutarch, Greek Philosopher

Chance, Fortune, Man

35

"To become truly immortal, a work of art must escape all human limits: logic and common sense will only interfere. But once these barriers are broken, it will enter the realms of childhood visions and dreams."

"To become truly immortal, a work of art must escape all human limits: logic and common sense will only interfere. But once these barriers are broken, it will enter the realms of childhood visions and dreams."

Giorgio de Chirico, Greek Artist

Art, Dreams, Work, Childhood

35

"We often give our enemies the means for our own destruction."

"We often give our enemies the means for our own destruction."

Aesop, Greek Author

Destruction, Enemies

35

"Cure sometimes, treat often, comfort always."

"Cure sometimes, treat often, comfort always."

Hippocrates, Greek Scientist

35

"When I was singing, everybody liked me."

"When I was singing, everybody liked me."

Nana Mouskouri, Greek Musician

35

"No one can harm the man who does himself no wrong."

"No one can harm the man who does himself no wrong."

John Chrysostom, Greek Clergyman

Harm, Man, Wrong

34

"A system of morality which is based on relative emotional values is a mere illusion, a thoroughly vulgar conception which has nothing sound in it and nothing true."

"A system of morality which is based on relative emotional values is a mere illusion, a thoroughly vulgar conception which has nothing sound in it and nothing true."

Socrates, Greek Philosopher

Morality, Values, Illusion, Nothing

34

"Excessive dealings with tyrants are not good for the security of free states."

"Excessive dealings with tyrants are not good for the security of free states."

Demosthenes, Greek Statesman

Security, States

34

"The most hateful human misfortune is for a wise man to have no influence."

"The most hateful human misfortune is for a wise man to have no influence."

Herodotus, Greek Historian

Influence, Man, Misfortune

34

"Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist."

"Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist."

Epicurus, Greek Philosopher

34

"The misfortune of the wise is better than the prosperity of the fool."

"The misfortune of the wise is better than the prosperity of the fool."

Epicurus, Greek Philosopher

Fool, Misfortune, Prosperity

34

"I know that I am intelligent, because I know that I know nothing."

"I know that I am intelligent, because I know that I know nothing."

Socrates, Greek Philosopher

Courage, Nothing

34

"Our envy always lasts longer than the happiness of those we envy."

"Our envy always lasts longer than the happiness of those we envy."

Heraclitus, Greek Philosopher

Happiness, Envy

34

"Good character is not formed in a week or a month. It is created little by little, day by day. Protracted and patient effort is needed to develop good character."

"Good character is not formed in a week or a month. It is created little by little, day by day. Protracted and patient effort is needed to develop good character."

Heraclitus, Greek Philosopher

Character, Day, Effort

34

"No speech can stain what is noble by nature."

"No speech can stain what is noble by nature."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

34

"Question everything. Learn something. Answer nothing."

"Question everything. Learn something. Answer nothing."

Euripides, Greek Poet

Nothing, Question

34

"The poets are only the interpreters of the Gods."

"The poets are only the interpreters of the Gods."

Socrates, Greek Philosopher

Art, Gods, Poets

34

"Misfortune seldom intrudes upon the wise man; his greatest and highest interests are directed by reason throughout the course of life."

"Misfortune seldom intrudes upon the wise man; his greatest and highest interests are directed by reason throughout the course of life."

Epicurus, Greek Philosopher

Life, Man, Misfortune, Reason

34

"I grow old learning something new every day."

"I grow old learning something new every day."

Solon, Greek Statesman

Learning, Day, Old

34

"Wit is educated insolence."

"Wit is educated insolence."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

34

"Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all."

"Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all."

Hypatia, Greek Philosopher

33

"Prayer indeed is good, but while calling on the gods a man should himself lend a hand."

"Prayer indeed is good, but while calling on the gods a man should himself lend a hand."

Hippocrates, Greek Scientist

God, Gods, Man, Prayer

33

"Children are the anchors of a mother's life."

"Children are the anchors of a mother's life."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Life, Mother, Children

33

"A bad neighbor is as great a calamity as a good one is a great advantage."

"A bad neighbor is as great a calamity as a good one is a great advantage."

Hesiod, Greek Poet

Neighborhood, Calamity

33

"Everything yields to diligence."

"Everything yields to diligence."

Antiphanes, Greek Writer

33

"Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud."

"Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Deception, Fraud, Honor, Succeed

33

"When I was very young I was the ugly duckling. I had a lot of complexes. My sister was wonderful and I was nothing."

"When I was very young I was the ugly duckling. I had a lot of complexes. My sister was wonderful and I was nothing."

Nana Mouskouri, Greek Musician

Sister, Nothing, Ugly

33

"I believe, however, that such abnormal moments can be found in everyone, and it is all the more fortunate when they occur in individuals with creative talent or with clairvoyant powers."

"I believe, however, that such abnormal moments can be found in everyone, and it is all the more fortunate when they occur in individuals with creative talent or with clairvoyant powers."

Giorgio de Chirico, Greek Artist

Talent, Moments

33

"Know, first, who you are, and then adorn yourself accordingly."

"Know, first, who you are, and then adorn yourself accordingly."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

33

"Extreme remedies are very appropriate for extreme diseases."

"Extreme remedies are very appropriate for extreme diseases."

Hippocrates, Greek Scientist

Extreme, Remedies

33

"I am not an Athenian or a Greek, but a citizen of the world."

"I am not an Athenian or a Greek, but a citizen of the world."

Diogenes, Greek Philosopher

33

"Man is most nearly himself when he achieves the seriousness of a child at play."

"Man is most nearly himself when he achieves the seriousness of a child at play."

Heraclitus, Greek Philosopher

Man, Play, Seriousness

33

"Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money."

"Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Life, Money, Gain

33

"Marriage, if one will face the truth, is an evil, but a necessary evil."

"Marriage, if one will face the truth, is an evil, but a necessary evil."

Menander, Greek Poet

Marriage, Truth, Evil, Will

33

"We must believe what is good and true about the prophets, that they were sages, that they did understand what proceeded from their mouths, and that they bore prudence on their lips."

"We must believe what is good and true about the prophets, that they were sages, that they did understand what proceeded from their mouths, and that they bore prudence on their lips."

Origen, Greek Theologian

32

"The life so short, the craft so long to learn."

"The life so short, the craft so long to learn."

Hippocrates, Greek Scientist

32

"It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds."

"It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds."

Aesop, Greek Author

Appearance, Birds

32

"Happiness is a choice that requires effort at times."

"Happiness is a choice that requires effort at times."

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

Happiness, Choice, Effort

32

"Without a sign, his sword the brave man draws, and asks no omen, but his country's cause."

"Without a sign, his sword the brave man draws, and asks no omen, but his country's cause."

Homer, Greek Poet

Cause, Country, Man

32

"If you have assumed any character beyond your strength, you have both demeaned yourself ill in that and quitted one which you might have supported."

"If you have assumed any character beyond your strength, you have both demeaned yourself ill in that and quitted one which you might have supported."

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Self-Development, Strength, Character, Wisdom, Responsibility

32

"Much learning does not teach understanding."

"Much learning does not teach understanding."

Heraclitus, Greek Philosopher

Learning, Understanding

31

"To make no mistakes is not in the power of man; but from their errors and mistakes the wise and good learn wisdom for the future."

"To make no mistakes is not in the power of man; but from their errors and mistakes the wise and good learn wisdom for the future."

Plutarch, Greek Philosopher

Power, Wisdom, Errors, Future

31

"Democracy arises out of the notion that those who are equal in any respect are equal in all respects; because men are equally free, they claim to be absolutely equal."

"Democracy arises out of the notion that those who are equal in any respect are equal in all respects; because men are equally free, they claim to be absolutely equal."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Democracy, Men, Respect

31

"Of all animals the boy is the most unmanageable."

"Of all animals the boy is the most unmanageable."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Youth, Animals, Nature, Behavior

31

"It is thrifty to prepare today for the wants of tomorrow."

"It is thrifty to prepare today for the wants of tomorrow."

Aesop, Greek Author

Preparedness, Today, Tomorrow

31

"Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little."

"Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little."

Epicurus, Greek Philosopher

31

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