Sophocles Quotes

Know'st not whate'er we do is done in love?

I would rather miss the mark acting well than win the day acting basely.

Death is not the worst evil, but rather when we wish to die and cannot.

A friend in word is never friend of mine.

Be a thrifty steward of thy goods.

I write a woman's oaths in water.

Without labor nothing prospers.

Do not grieve yourself too much for those you hate, nor yet forget them utterly.

Heaven never helps the man who will not help himself

Fortune is not on the side of the faint-hearted.

In darkness one may be ashamed of what one does, without the shame of disgrace.

How sweet for those faring badly to forget their misfortunes even for a short time.

Having advanced to the limit of boldness, child, you have stumbled against the lofty pedestal of Justice.

Dark, dark! The horror of darkness, like a shroud, wraps me and bears me on through mist and cloud.

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

It is the task of a good man to help those in misfortune.

Kindness gives birth to kindness.

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

Fortune cannot aid those who do nothing.

Success is the reward for toil.

Even the stout of heart shrink when they see the approach of death.

Not even old age knows how to love death.

Not all things are to be discovered; many are better concealed.

The sleep of a sick man has keen eyes. It is a sleep unsleeping.

But the power of destiny is something awesome; neither wealth, nor Ares, nor a tower, nor dark-hulled ships might escape it.

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

One thinking it is right to speak all things, whether the word is fit for speech or unutterable.

You don't know what kind of day you will have, until evening.

Every man can see things far off but is blind to what is near.

Money is the worst currency that ever grew among mankind. This sacks cities, this drives men from their homes, this teaches and corrupts the worthiest minds to turn base deeds.

All a man's affairs become diseased when he wishes to cure evils by evils.

When people fall in deep distress, their native sense departs.

Silence is an ornament for women.

But this is a true saying among men: the gifts of enemies are no gifts and profitless.

The gods love those of ordered soul.

A broad-backed ox can be driven straight on his road even by a small goad.

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

Much wisdom often goes with fewer words.

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

To the man who is afraid everything rustles.

Reverence does not die with mortals, nor does it perish whether they live or die.

Heaven ne'er helps the men who will not act.

What men have seen they know. . . .

There are times when even justice brings harm with it.

Whatever God has brought about Is to be borne with courage.

No more shall ye behold such sights of woe, deeds I have suffered and myself have wrought; henceforward quenched in darkness shall ye see those ye should ne'er have seen; now blind to those whom, when I saw, I vainly yearned to know.

It is the merit of a general to impart good news, and to conceal the truth.

To err is common to all mankind, but having erred he is no longer reckless nor unblest who haven fallen into evil seeks a cure, nor remains unmoved.