Quotes by Greek Authors - Page 2

When the mind is thinking it is talking to itself.
Plato
What we look for does not come to pass. God finds a way for what none foresaw.
Euripides
As to Caesar when he was called upon he gave no testimony against Clodius nor did he affirm that he was certain of any injury done to his bed. He only said "He had divorced Pompeia because the wife of Caesar ought not only to be clear of such a crime but of the very suspicion of it."
Plutarch
You think that upon the score of fore-knowledge and divining I am infinitely inferior to the swans. When they perceive approaching death they sing more merrily than before because of the joy they have in going to the God they serve.
Socrates
The man who melts With social sympathy though not allied Is of more worth than a thousand kinsmen.
Euripides
Along with success comes a reputation for wisdom.
Euripides
We would often be sorry if our wishes were gratified.
Aesop
One more such victory and we are undone.
Pyrrhus
Plodding wins the race.
Aesop
To persevere trusting in what hopes he has is courage. The coward despairs.
Euripides
Great deeds are usually wrought at great risks.
Herodotus
Success for the striver washes away the effort of striving.
Pindar
Fear is stronger than arms.
Aeschylus
States are as the men are they grow out of human characters.
Plato
For that man is detested by me as the gates of hell whose outward words conceal his inmost thoughts.
Homer
His speech flowed from his tongue sweeter than honey.
Homer
Rhetoric is the art of ruling the minds of men.
Plato
First learn the meaning of what you say and then speak.
Epictetus
It is terrible to speak well and be wrong.
Sophocles
The fewer our wants the nearer we resemble the gods.
Socrates
First say to yourself what you would be and then do what you have to do.
Epictetus
Nature has given to men one tongue but two ears that we may hear from others twice as much as we speak.
Epictetus
It is vain to ask of the gods what man is capable of supplying for himself.
Epicurus
God loves to help him who strives to help himself.
Aeschylus
Even God lends a hand to honest boldness.
Menander
God has entrusted me with myself.
Epictetus
The greatest griefs are those we cause ourselves.
Sophocles
It is a painful thing to look at your own trouble and know that you yourself and no one else has made it.
Sophocles
What fate can be worse than to know we have no one but ourselves to blame for our misfortunes!
Sophocles
The man who makes everything that leads to happiness depend upon himself and not upon other men has adopted the very best plan for living happily.
Plato
The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things.
Epictetus
The destiny of man is in his own soul.
Herodotus
Ruin and recovery are both from within.
Epictetus
Thales was asked what was most difficult to man he answered: "To know one's self."
Diogenes
Nothing is easier than self-deceit.
Demosthenes
Learn what you are and be such.
Pindar
Awakening begins when a man realizes that he is going nowhere and does not know where to go.
Georges Gurdjieff
The most difficult thing in life is to know yourself.
Thales
The life which is unexamined is not worth living.
Plato
No man is free who is not master of himself.
Epictetus
Freedom is not procured by a full enjoyment of what is desired but by controlling that desire.
Epictetus
May God ... let me strive for attainable things.
Pindar
Learn what you are and be such.
Pindar
Happiness greatness pride-nothing is secure nothing keeps.
Euripides
Two things a man cannot hide: that he is drunk and that he is in love.
Antiphanes
Science is nothing but perception.
Plato
A man can hide all things excepting twain - That he is drunk and that he is in love.
Antiphanes
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
To be ignorant of the lives of the most celebrated men of antiquity is to continue in a state of childhood.
Plutarch
They are surely to be esteemed the bravest spirits who having the clearest sense of both the pains and pleasures of life do not on that account shrink from danger.
Thucydides
You've got to keep fighting-you've got to risk your life every six months to stay alive.
Elia Kazan
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
The same man cannot be skilled in everything each has his special excellence.
Euripides
Skills vary with the man. We must... strive by that which is born in us.
Pindar
Each citizen should play his part in the community according to his individual gifts.
Plato
Choose always the way that seems the best however rough it may be custom will soon render it easy and agreeable.
Pythagoras
All is disgust when one leaves his own nature and does things that misfit it.
Sophocles
Do you know that disease and death must needs overtake us no matter what we are doing? ... What do you wish to be doing when it overtakes you?... If you have anything better to be doing when you are so overtaken get to work on that.
Epictetus
There is just one life for each of us: our own.
Euripides
Since luck's a nine days' wonder wait their end.
Euripides