Sophocles Quotes

A short saying oft contains much wisdom.

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

Much speech is one thing, well-timed speech is another.

One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love.

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

What you cannot enforce, do not command.

No man loves life like him that's growing old.

To him who is in fear everything rustles.

It is not righteousness to outrage A brave man dead, not even though you hate him.

Men of ill judgment oft ignore the good That lies within their hands, till they have lost it.

Of all human ills, greatest is fortune's wayward tyranny.

For God hates utterly The bray of bragging tongues.

Grief teaches the steadiest minds to waver.

How dreadful it is when the right judge judges wrong!

I have nothing but contempt for the kind of governor who is afraid, for whatever reason, to follow the course that he knows is best for the State; and as for the man who sets private friendship above the public welfare - I have no use for him either.

Money: There's nothing in the world so demoralizing as money.

Nobody likes the man who brings bad news.

Numberless are the world's wonders, but none More wonderful than man.

Reason is God's crowning gift to man.

Show me the man who keeps his house in hand, He's fit for public authority.

The ideal condition Would be, I admit, that men should be right by instinct; But since we are all likely to go astray, The reasonable thing is to learn from those who can teach.

There is no happiness where there is no wisdom; No wisdom but in submission to the gods. Big words are always punished, And proud men in old age learn to be wise.

Wisdom outweighs any wealth.

Truly, to tell lies is not honorable; but when the truth entails tremendous ruin, To speak dishonorably is pardonable.

Death is not the worst thing; rather, when one who craves death cannot attain even that wish.

Death is not the worst; rather, in vain To wish for death, and not to compass it.

The end excuses any evil.

It made our hair stand up in panic fear.

One word Frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love.

Stranger in a strange country.

The good befriend themselves.

How dreadful knowledge of the truth can be When there's no help in truth!

The greatest griefs are those we cause ourselves.

Time eases all things.

A prudent mind can see room for misgiving, lest he who prospers would one day suffer reverse.

Knowledge must come through action; you can have no test which is not fanciful, save by trial.

Rash indeed is he who reckons on the morrow, or haply on days beyond it; for tomorrow is not, until today is past.