Sophocles Quotes

It is a base thing for a man among the people not to obey those in command. Never in a state can the laws be well administered when fear does not stand firm.

Even from the first it is meek to seek the impossible.

To be doing good deeds is man's most glorious task.

Now let the weeping cease; Let no one mourn again. These things are in the hands of God.

When trouble ends even troubles please.

Stubbornness and stupidity are twins.

But whoever gives birth to useless children, what would you say of him except that he has bred sorrows for himself, and furnishes laughter for his enemies.

A prudent man should neglect no circumstances.

The tyrant is a child of pride.

There is a time when even justice brings harm.

True, as unwisdom is the worst of ills

It is only great souls that know how much glory there is in being good.

For even bold natures flee, whenever they see Hades close to life.

Not to be born surpasses all reckoning. The next best thing by far, when one has been born is to go back as swiftly as possible whence one came.

Kindness begets kindness evermore.

The Most beautiful human deed, is to be useful to others.

You would rouse to anger a heart of stone.

Of no mortal say, 'That man is happy,' till vexed by no grievous ill he pass Life's goal.

Do nothing secretly; for Time sees and hears all things, and discloses all.

Sleep, thou patron of mankind, Great physician of the mind Who does nor pain nor sorrow know, Sweetest balm of every woe.

Nobody likes the bringer of bad news.

Fate has terrible power. You cannot escape it by wealth or war. No fort will keep it out, no ships outrun it.

You cannot know a man's life before the man has died, then only can you call it good or bad.

A lie never lives to be old.

It was my care to make my life illustrious not by words more than by deeds.

Evil counsel travels fast.

Truth hates delay. (Veritas odit moras.)

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

Who feels no ills, should, therefore, fear them; and when fortune smiles, be doubly cautious, lest destruction come remorseless on him, and he fall unpitied.

To revive sorrow is cruel.

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

Our happiness depends on wisdom all the way.

Whoever thinks his friend more important than his country, I rate him nowhere.

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.

Fear? What has a man to do with fear? Chance rules our lives, and the future is all unknown. Best live as we may, from day to day.

How terrible it is to have wisdom when it does not benefit those who have it.

It is always fair sailing, when you escape evil.

For the gods, though slow to see, see well, whenever a man casting aside worship turns folly.

As sight is in the eye, so is the mind in the soul!

Grief teaches the steadiest minds to waver.

A human being is only breath and shadow.

Hide nothing, for time, which sees all and hears all, exposes all.

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

If they are just, they are better than clever.

And if you think my acts are foolishness the foolishness may be in a fool's eye.

What you can't enforce, do not command.

The rewards of virtue alone abide secure.

A day lays low and lifts up again all human things.