Quotes by Greek Authors | Beyond Motive 40/40

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Quotes by Greek Authors

"And when long years and seasons wheeling brought around that point of time ordained for him to make his passage homeward, trials and dangers, even so, attended him even in Ithaca, near those he loved."

"And when long years and seasons wheeling brought around that point of time ordained for him to make his passage homeward, trials and dangers, even so, attended him even in Ithaca, near those he loved."

Homer, Greek Poet

Journey, Trials, Home, Love

9

"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

9

"When he endures nothing but endless miseries-- What pleasure is there in living the day after day, Edging slowly back and forth toward death?Anyone who warms their heart with the glow Of flickering hope is worth nothing at all. The noble man should either live with honor or die with honor. That's all there is to be said."

"When he endures nothing but endless miseries-- What pleasure is there in living the day after day, Edging slowly back and forth toward death?Anyone who warms their heart with the glow Of flickering hope is worth nothing at all. The noble man should either live with honor or die with honor. That's all there is to be said."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Honor, Courage, Death, Meaning

9

"We make war that we may live in peace."

"We make war that we may live in peace."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Peace, War, May

9

"Love is the joy of the good, the wonder of the wise, the amazement of the Gods."

"Love is the joy of the good, the wonder of the wise, the amazement of the Gods."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Love, Gods, Joy, Wonder

9

"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

9

"The soul of him who has education is whole and perfect and escapes the worst disease, but, if a man's education be neglected, he walks lamely through life and returns good for nothing to the world below."

"The soul of him who has education is whole and perfect and escapes the worst disease, but, if a man's education be neglected, he walks lamely through life and returns good for nothing to the world below."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Education, Soul, Health, Disease

9

"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

9

"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

9

"The one exclusive sign of thorough knowledge is the power of teaching."

"The one exclusive sign of thorough knowledge is the power of teaching."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Education, Power, Knowledge, Teaching

9

"Do not believe that you alone can be right.The man who thinks that,The man who maintains that only he has the powerTo reason correctly, the gift to speak, the soul-A man like that, when you know him, turns out empty."

"Do not believe that you alone can be right.The man who thinks that,The man who maintains that only he has the powerTo reason correctly, the gift to speak, the soul-A man like that, when you know him, turns out empty."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Philosophy, Humility, Reason, Judgment, Power

9

"Whoever grows angry amid troubles applies a drug worse than the disease and is a physician unskilled about misfortunes."

"Whoever grows angry amid troubles applies a drug worse than the disease and is a physician unskilled about misfortunes."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Justice, Disease

9

"There is the heat of Love, the pulsing rush of Longing, the lover's whisper, irresistible-magic to make the sanest man go mad."

"There is the heat of Love, the pulsing rush of Longing, the lover's whisper, irresistible-magic to make the sanest man go mad."

Homer, Greek Poet

Passion, Love, Desire, Intensity

9

"Like a girl, a baby running after her mother, begging to be picked up, and she tugs on her skirts, holding her back as she tries to hurry off-all tears, fawning up at her, till she takes her in her arms That's how you look, Patroclus, streaming live tears."

"Like a girl, a baby running after her mother, begging to be picked up, and she tugs on her skirts, holding her back as she tries to hurry off-all tears, fawning up at her, till she takes her in her arms That's how you look, Patroclus, streaming live tears."

Homer, Greek Poet

Emotion, Childhood, Love, Affection

9

"You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation."

"You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Relationship, Conversation, Play

9

"Poets utter great and wise things which they do not themselves understand."

"Poets utter great and wise things which they do not themselves understand."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

9

"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

9

"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

9

"Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."

"Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Kindness, Battle, Life, Struggle

9

"I know that I know nothing."

"I know that I know nothing."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, Knowledge, Ignorance, Philosophy, Truth

9

"The only crime is pride."

"The only crime is pride."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Ethics, Pride, Morality, Character

8

"Wealth is well known to be a great comforter."

"Wealth is well known to be a great comforter."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

8

"Man is a wingless animal with two feet and flat nails."

"Man is a wingless animal with two feet and flat nails."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Identity, Feet, Man

8

"So in the Libyan fable it is told That once an eagle stricken with a dart Said when he saw the fashion of the shaft 'With our own feathers not by others' hands Are we now smitten.'"

"So in the Libyan fable it is told That once an eagle stricken with a dart Said when he saw the fashion of the shaft 'With our own feathers not by others' hands Are we now smitten.'"

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

Adaptation, Symbolism, War, Truth, History

8

"Is it not the same distance to God everywhere?"

"Is it not the same distance to God everywhere?"

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Spiritual, Equality, Faith, Perspective

8

"Be kind, because everyone is having a really hard time."

"Be kind, because everyone is having a really hard time."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Kindness, Compassion, Humanity, Life

8

"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

8

"No man loves the bearer of bad tidings."

"No man loves the bearer of bad tidings."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

8

"A curse burns bright on crime."

"A curse burns bright on crime."

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

Silence, Crime, Consequence, Darkness, Justice

8

"A lie never grows old."

"A lie never grows old."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Ethics, Truth, Honesty, Reflection, Reality

8

"Perfect friendship is the friendship of men who are good, and alike in excellence; for these wish well alike to each other qua good, and they are good in themselves."

"Perfect friendship is the friendship of men who are good, and alike in excellence; for these wish well alike to each other qua good, and they are good in themselves."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Friendship, Men, Excellence

8

"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

8

"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

8

"For Ares, lord of strife, Who doth the swaying scales of battle hold, War's money-changer, giving dust for gold, Sends back, to hearts that held them dear, Scant ash of warriors, wept with many a tear, Light to the hand, but heavy to the soul; Yea, fills the light urn full With what survived the flame- Death's dusty measure of a hero's frame!"

"For Ares, lord of strife, Who doth the swaying scales of battle hold, War's money-changer, giving dust for gold, Sends back, to hearts that held them dear, Scant ash of warriors, wept with many a tear, Light to the hand, but heavy to the soul; Yea, fills the light urn full With what survived the flame- Death's dusty measure of a hero's frame!"

Aeschylus, Greek Poet

Reality, War, Death, Loss, Heroism

8

"A good decision is based on knowledge and not on numbers."

"A good decision is based on knowledge and not on numbers."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Wisdom, Knowledge, Decision, Numbers

8

"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

7

"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

7

"We are not angry with people we fear or respect, as long as we fear or respect them; you cannot be afraid of a person and also at the same time angry with him."

"We are not angry with people we fear or respect, as long as we fear or respect them; you cannot be afraid of a person and also at the same time angry with him."

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

Respect, Fear, Anger, Life

7

"The greatest griefs are those we cause ourselves."

"The greatest griefs are those we cause ourselves."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

Reflection, Grief, Regret, Responsibility

6

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