400s BC

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Wonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder.

Socrates

Quoted in Theaetetus, by Plato

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Socrates. Quoted in Θεαίτητος [Theaetetus], written by Plato. c. 369 BC.

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Socrates. Quoted in Theaetetus, written by Plato, translated by John McDowell. Oxford University Press, 2014.

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A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching

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Laozi [Lao Tzu]. 道德經 [Tao Te Ching]. c. 400 BC, ch. 64.

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Laozi [Lao Tzu]. "The Natural Way of Lao Tzu." A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, translated by Wing-Tsit Chan. Princeton University Press, 1969, ch. 64.

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You know as well as we do that right, as the word goes, is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.

Thucydides

History of the Peloponnesian War

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Thucydides. The History of the Peloponnesian War. c. 431 BC, bk. 5.

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Thucydides. The Peloponnesian War, translated by Martin Hammond. Oxford University Press, 2009, bk. 5.

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Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching

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Laozi [Lao Tzu]. 道德經 [Tao Te Ching]. c. 400 BC, ch. 37.

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Laozi [Lao Tzu]. "The Natural Way of Lao Tzu." A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, translated by Wing-Tsit Chan. Princeton University Press, 1969, ch. 37.

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The sage does not accumulate for himself.
The more he uses for others, the more he has himself.
The more he gives to others, the more he possesses of his own.
The Way of Heaven is to benefit others and not to injure.
The Way of the sage is to act but not to compete.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching

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Laozi [Lao Tzu]. 道德經 [Tao Te Ching]. c. 400 BC, ch. 81.

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Laozi [Lao Tzu]. "The Natural Way of Lao Tzu." A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, translated by Wing-Tsit Chan. Princeton University Press, 1969, ch. 81.

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For a city consists of men, and not of walls nor ships empty of men.

Nicias

Quoted in History of the Peloponnesian War, by Thucydides

Speech to the defeated Athenian army at Syracuse, 413 BC.

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Nicias. Quoted in History of the Pelopponesian War, written by Thucydides. c. 405 BC, bk. 7.

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Nicias. Quoted in History of the Pelopponesian War, written by Thucydides, translated by Martin Hammond. Oxford University Press, 2009, bk. 7.

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Mere cleverness is not wisdom.

Euripides

Bacchae

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Euripides. The Bacchae. 405 BC, l. 395.

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Euripides. "The Baccae." Euripedes V: Bacchae, Iphigenia in Aulis, The Cyclops, Rhesus, translated by Richard Lattimore, et. al. University of Chicago Press, 2013, l. 395.

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A woman's vows I write upon the wave.

Sophocles

Unknown drama

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Sophocles. Unnamed drama. 5th century BC, fragment 694.

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Of the gods we believe, and of men we know, that by a necessary law of their nature they rule wherever they can.

Thucydides

History of the Peloponnesian War

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Thucydides. The History of the Peloponnesian War. c. 431 BC, bk. 5.

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Thucydides. The Peloponnesian War, translated by Martin Hammond. Oxford University Press, 2009, bk. 5.

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The joy of the Lord is your strength.

Nehemiah 8:10

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The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Nehemiah 8:10).

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He who knows does not speak.
He who speaks does not know.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching

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Original Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. 道德經 [Tao Te Ching]. c. 400 BC, ch. 56.

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Laozi [Lao Tzu]. "The Natural Way of Lao Tzu." A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, translated by Wing-Tsit Chan. Princeton University Press, 1969, ch. 56.

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Let people hold on to these:
Manifest plainness,
Embrace simplicity,
Reduce selfishness,
Have few desires.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching

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Laozi [Lao Tzu]. 道德經 [Tao Te Ching]. c. 400 BC, ch. 19.

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Laozi [Lao Tzu]. "The Natural Way of Lao Tzu." A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, translated by Wing-Tsit Chan. Princeton University Press, 1969, ch. 19.

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Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear?

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching

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Laozi [Lao Tzu]. 道德經 [Tao Te Ching]. c. 400 BC, ch. 15.

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Laozi [Lao Tzu]. "The Natural Way of Lao Tzu." A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, translated by Wing-Tsit Chan. Princeton University Press, 1969, ch. 15.

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If you try to change it, you will ruin it. Try to hold it, and you will lose it.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching

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Laozi [Lao Tzu]. 道德經 [Tao Te Ching]. c. 400 BC, ch. 29.

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Laozi [Lao Tzu]. "The Natural Way of Lao Tzu." A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, translated by Wing-Tsit Chan. Princeton University Press, 1969, ch. 29.

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When the people of the world all know beauty as beauty,
There arises the recognition of ugliness.
When they all know the good as good,
There arises the recognition of evil.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching

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Laozi [Lao Tzu]. 道德經 [Tao Te Ching]. c. 400 BC, ch. 2.

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Laozi [Lao Tzu]. "The Natural Way of Lao Tzu." A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, translated by Wing-Tsit Chan. Princeton University Press, 1969, ch. 2.

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The pursuit of learning is to increase day after day.
The pursuit of Tao is to decrease day after day.
It is to decrease and further decrease until one reaches the point of taking no action.
No action is undertaken, and yet nothing is left undone.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching

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Laozi [Lao Tzu]. 道德經 [Tao Te Ching]. c. 400 BC, ch. 48.

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Laozi [Lao Tzu]. "The Natural Way of Lao Tzu." A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, translated by Wing-Tsit Chan. Princeton University Press, 1969, ch. 48.

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Not to be born is, past all prizing, best.

Sophocles

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Sophocles. Οἰδίπους ἐπὶ Κολωνῷ [Oedipus at Colonus]. 401 BC, Festival of Dionysus, Athens, Greece.

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Sophocles. "Oedipus at Colonus." The Three Theban Plays: Antigone, Oedipus the King, Odeipus at Colonus, translated by Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics, 2000.

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O sleep's enchantment, friend and helper against sickness.

Euripides

Orestes

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Euripides. Ὀρέστης [Orestes]. 408 BC, City Dionysia festival, Athens, Greece.

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Euripides. "Orestes." Euripides IV: Helen, The Phoenician Women, Orestes, edited and translated by Richard Lattimore, et. al. University of Chicago Press, 2013.