2nd century

Explore 68 quotes from the 2nd century

Remember that you ought to behave in life as you should at a banquet. As something is being passed around it comes to you; stretch out your hand, take a portion of it politely. It passes on; do not detain it. Or it has not come to you yet; do not project your desire to meet it, but wait until it comes in front of you. So act toward children, so toward a wife, so toward office, so toward wealth.

Epictetus

Quoted in The Enchiridion, by Arrian

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Topic

Patience

Speaker

Epictetus

Author

Arrian

Source

The Enchiridion

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

125 120s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Epictetus. Ἐγχειρίδιον Ἐπικτήτου, Enkheirídion Epiktḗtou [Enchiridion of Epictetus]. c. 125 CE, ch. 15.

Current Citation

Epictetus. Enchiridion, translated by George Long. Dover Publications, 2004, ch. 15.

Though boys throw stones at frogs in sport, the frogs do not die in sport, but in earnest.

Bion of Borysthenes

Quoted in Moralia, by Plutarch

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Topic

Animal cruelty Man and animals

Speaker

Bion of Borysthenes

Author

Plutarch

Source

Moralia

Medium

Essay

Language

Greek

Time

100 100s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Bion. Quoted in "De sollertia animalium [Whether Land or Sea Animals are Cleverer]." Moralia [Morals], written by Plutarch. c. 100.

Current Citation

Bion. Quoted in "Whether Land or Sea Animals are Cleverer." Moralia, written by Plutarch. Vol. 12, Harvard University Press, 1957.

Were I a nightingale, I would sing like a nightingale; were I a swan, like a swan. But as it is, I am a rational being, therefore I must sing hymns of praise to God.

Epictetus

Discourses

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Topic

Praising God Fulfilling one's nature

Author

Epictetus

Source

Discourses

Medium

Lecture

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

108 100s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Epictetus. Ἐπικτήτου διατριβαί, Epiktētou diatribai [The Discourses of Epictetus]. c. 108, bk. 1, ch. 16.

Current Citation

Epictetus. "The Discourses." Discourses and Other Writings, edited and translated by Robert Dobbin. Penguin Classics, 2008, bk. 1, ch. 16.

Uncomplicate yourself.

Marcus Aurelius

Meditations

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Topic

Simplicity

Author

Marcus Aurelius

Source

Meditations

Medium

Personal journal

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Advice

Language

Latin

Time

180 180s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations. c. 180, bk. 4.

Current Citation

Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations, edited and translated by Martin Hammond. Penguin Classics, 2015, bk. 4.

Nothing happens to anybody which he is not fitted by nature to bear.

Marcus Aurelius

Meditations

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Topic

Resilience Inner strength

Author

Marcus Aurelius

Source

Meditations

Medium

Personal journal

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

180 180s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations. c. 180, bk. 5.

Current Citation

Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations, edited and translated by Martin Hammond. Penguin Classics, 2015, bk. 5.

It is man's peculiar duty to love even those who wrong him.

Marcus Aurelius

Meditations

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Topic

Loving one's enemies Loving others Love

Author

Marcus Aurelius

Source

Meditations

Medium

Personal journal

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

180 180s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations. c. 180, bk. 7.

Current Citation

Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations, edited and translated by Martin Hammond. Penguin Classics, 2015, bk. 7.

If not becoming, don’t do it. If not true, don’t say it. Let these be your fixed principles.

Marcus Aurelius

Meditations

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Topic

Lying Personal integrity Morality

Author

Marcus Aurelius

Source

Meditations

Medium

Personal journal

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Orders and commands

Language

Greek

Time

180 180s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 0

Original Citation

Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations. c. 180, bk. 12.

Current Citation

Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations, edited and translated by Martin Hammond. Penguin Classics, 2015, bk. 12.

No one ever suddenly became depraved.

Juvenal

Satires

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Topic

Depravity Moral theory Morality Character

Author

Juvenal

Source

Satires

Medium

Poem

Language

Latin

Time

127 120s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Juvenal. Satirae [Satires]. c. 127, satire 2.

Current Citation

Juvenal. The Satires, translated by Niall Rudd. Oxford University Press, 2008, satire 2.

Each thing is of like form from everlasting and comes round again in its cycle.

Marcus Aurelius

Meditations

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Topic

Circle of life

Author

Marcus Aurelius

Source

Meditations

Medium

Personal journal

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

180 180s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations. c. 180, bk. 2.

Current Citation

Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations, edited and translated by Martin Hammond. Penguin Classics, 2015, bk. 2.

Never esteem anything as of advantage to you that will make you break your word or lose your self-respect.

Marcus Aurelius

Meditations

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Topic

Honor

Author

Marcus Aurelius

Source

Meditations

Medium

Personal journal

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

180 180s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations. c. 180, bk. 3.

Current Citation

Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations, edited and translated by Martin Hammond. Penguin Classics, 2015, bk. 3.

The less we indulge our pleasures the more we enjoy them.

Juvenal

Satires

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Topic

Self-indulgence Pleasure

Author

Juvenal

Source

Satires

Medium

Poem

Statement Type

Paradox

Language

Latin

Time

127 120s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Juvenal. Satirae [Satires]. c. 127, satire 11.

Current Citation

Juvenal. The Satires, translated by Niall Rudd. Oxford University Press, 2008, satire 11.

Wait for the wisest of all counsellors, Time.

Pericles

Quoted in Plutarch's Lives, by Plutarch

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Topic

Patience Time

Speaker

Pericles

Author

Plutarch

Source

Plutarch's Lives

Genre

Biography

Statement Type

Advice

Language

Greek

Time

100 100s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Pericles. Quoted in "Pericles." Parallel Lives by Plutarch. c. 2nd century BC, ch. 18, sect. 2.

Current Citation

Pericles. Quoted in "Pericles." Parallel Lives by Plutarch. Oxford University Press, 2009, ch. 18, sect. 2.

How strongly does this bear out the truth of Plato's maxim, that he who wishes to be really rich ought to lessen his desires rather than increase his property, because if a man places no bounds to his covetousness, he never will be free from want and misery.

Plutarch

Plutarch's Lives

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Topic

Wealth Contentment Desire Appetite Freedom

Author

Plutarch

Source

Demetrius Plutarch's Lives

Genre

Biography Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

2nd century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Plutarch. "Demetrius." Βίοι Παράλληλοι [Parallel Lives]. c. 2nd century.

Current Citation

Plutarch. "Demetrius." Roman Lives: A Selection of Eight Roman Lives, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2009.

I have learned much from my teachers, more from my colleagues, and the most from my students.

Hanina ben Dosa

More information about this quote

Topic

Teachers and students

Author

Hanina ben Dosa

Source

Ta'anit Talmud

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Statement Type

Paradox

Language

Hebrew

Time

200 200s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 0

Original Citation

Talmud. The William Davidson Talmud. c. 1960. (Ta'anit 1:7a)

Current Citation

The Talmud: A Selection. Penguin Classics, 2009. (Ta'anit 1:7a).

Wise men don't say, "I shall live to do that". Tomorrow's life's too late; live today.

Martial

Epigrams

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Topic

Living in the moment Present and future The present

Author

Martial

Source

Epigrams

Medium

Epigram

Language

Latin

Time

103 100s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Martial. Epigrammata [Epigrams]. c. 102 AD, bk. 1, no. 15.

Current Citation

Martial. Epigrams, translated by Gideon Nisbet. Oxford University Press, 2015, bk. 1, no. 15.

Everything that is hard to attain is easily assailed by the generality of men.

Ptolemy

Tetrabiblos

More information about this quote

Topic

Envy

Author

Ptolemy

Source

Tetrabiblos

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

168 160s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Ptolemy, Claudius. Τετράβιβλος [Tetrabiblios]. c. 150, bk. 1.

Appearances to the mind are of four kinds. Things are either what they appear to be; or they are neither are, nor appear to be; or they are, and do not appear to be; or they are not and yet appear to be. Rightly to aim in all these cases is the wise man's task.

Epictetus

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Topic

Appearance vs. reality Perception

Author

Epictetus

Source

Discourses

Medium

Lecture

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

108 100s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Epictetus. Ἐπικτήτου διατριβαί, Epiktētou diatribai [The Discourses of Epictetus]. c. 108, bk. 1, ch. 27.

Current Citation

Epictetus. "The Discourses." Discourses and Other Writings, edited and translated by Robert Dobbin. Penguin Classics, 2008, bk. 1, ch. 27.

Shall I show you the sinews of a philosopher? "What sinews are those?"-A will undisappointed; evils avoided; powers daily exercised; careful resolution; unerring decisions.

Epictetus

Discourses

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Topic

Philosophers Philosophy

Author

Epictetus

Source

Discourses

Medium

Lecture

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

108 100s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Epictetus. Ἐπικτήτου διατριβαί, Epiktētou diatribai [The Discourses of Epictetus]. c. 108, bk. 2, ch. 8.

Current Citation

Epictetus. "The Discourses." Discourses and Other Writings, edited and translated by Robert Dobbin. Penguin Classics, 2008, bk. 2, ch. 8.

What is the first business of one who practices philosophy? To get rid of self-conceit. For it is impossible for anyone to begin to learn that which he thinks he already knows.

Epictetus

Discourses

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Topic

Intellectual humility Certainty Obstacles to learning Learning

Author

Epictetus

Source

Discourses

Medium

Lecture

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

108 100s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Epictetus. Ἐπικτήτου διατριβαί, Epiktētou diatribai [The Discourses of Epictetus]. c. 108, bk. 2, ch. 17.

Current Citation

Epictetus. "The Discourses." Discourses and Other Writings, edited and translated by Robert Dobbin. Penguin Classics, 2008, bk. 2, ch. 17.

Anacharsis laughed at Solon for imagining the dishonesty and covetousness of his countrymen could be restrained by written laws, which were like spiders' webs, and would catch, it is true, the weak and poor, but easily be broken by the mighty and rich.

Plutarch

Plutarch's Lives

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Topic

Nature of law Law Rich vs. poor

Author

Plutarch

Source

Plutarch's Lives

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

119 110s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Anacharsis. Quoted in "Solon." Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans. c. 120.

Current Citation

Anacharsis. Quoted in "Solon." Greek Lives, written by Plutarch, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2009.