420s BC

Explore 11 quotes from the 420s BC

Man is the measure of all things.

Protagoras

Quoted in Theaetetus, by Plato

Buy Theaetetus at Amazon Buy Theaetetus at Amazon
Read Theaetetus at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

Topic

Nature of man

Speaker

Protagoras

Author

Plato

Source

Theaetetus

Medium

Philosophical dialogue

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

420 BC 420s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Plato. Θεαίτητος [Theatetus]. c. 400 BC.

Current Citation

Plato. Theatetus, translated by John McDowell. Oxford University Press, 2014.

For I am the Lord, I change not.

Malachi 3:6

Buy the Bible (KJV) at Amazon Buy the Bible (KJV) at Amazon
Read this verse at Bible Hub

More information about this quote

Topic

Nature of God God

Source

Malachi The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Hebrew

Time

424 BC 420s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Malachi 3:6).

The old are in a second childhood.

Strepsiades

The Clouds

Buy Clouds at Amazon Buy Clouds at Amazon

More information about this quote

Topic

Youth vs. old age Old age

Speaker

Strepsiades

Author

Aristophanes

Source

The Clouds

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedic play Greek theater

Language

Greek

Time

423 BC 420s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Aristophanes. Νεφέλαι [The Clouds]. c. 423 BC, The Dionysia, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

Aristophanes. "The Clouds." Aristophanes: Frogs and Other Plays, translated by Stephen Halliwell. Oxford University Press, 2017.

My tongue swore, but my mind's unsworn.

Euripides

Buy Hippolytus at Amazon Buy Hippolytus at Amazon
Read Hippolytus at the MIT's classics department website

More information about this quote

Topic

Promises

Speaker

Hippolytus

Author

Euripides

Source

Hippolytus

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragic play Greek theater

Language

Greek

Time

428 BC 420s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Euripides. Ἱππόλυτος [Hippolytus]. 428 BC, City Dionysia festival, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

Euripides. "Hippolytus." Euripides I: Alcestis, Medea, The Children of Heracles, Hippolytus, edited and translated by Richard Lattimore, et. al. University of Chicago Press, 2013.

Mankind, fleet of life, like tree leaves, weak creatures of clay, unsubstantial as shadows, wingless, ephemeral, wretched, mortal and dreamlike.

Aristophanes

Birds

Buy Birds at Amazon Buy Birds at Amazon
Read Birds at MIT's classics department website

More information about this quote

Topic

Ephemeral nature of life

Author

Aristophanes

Source

Birds

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

Language

Greek

Time

424 BC 420s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Aristophanes. Ὄρνιθες [Birds]. c. 414, Dionysia, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

Aristophanes. "Birds." Aristophanes: The Complete Plays, translated by Paul Roche. New American Library/Berkley, 2005.

When men drink, then they are rich and successful and win lawsuits and are happy and help their friends. Quickly, bring me a beaker of wine, so that I may wet my mind and say something clever.

Demosthenes

Knights

Buy Knights at Amazon Buy Knights at Amazon

More information about this quote

Topic

Reasons to drink Alcohol Getting drunk

Speaker

Demosthenes

Author

Aristophanes

Source

Knights

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

Language

Greek

Time

424 BC 420s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Aristophanes. Ἱππεῖς Hippeîs [The Knights]. 424 BC, Lenaia Festival, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

Aristophanes. "The Knights." The Birds and Other Plays, translated by Alan H. Sommerstein. Penguin Classics, 2003.

There is one thing alone
that stands the brunt of life throughout its course:
a quiet conscience.

Euripides

Hippolytus

Buy Hippolytus at Amazon Buy Hippolytus at Amazon
Read Hippolytus at the MIT's classics department website

More information about this quote

Topic

Conscience Inner peace

Speaker

Phaedra

Author

Euripides

Source

Hippolytus

Medium

Play

Genre

Greek tragedy Tragedy (play)

Language

Greek

Time

428 BC 420s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Euripides. Ἱππόλυτος [Hippolytus]. 428 BC, City Dionysia festival, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

Euripides. "Hippolytus." Euripides I: Alcestis, Medea, The Children of Heracles, Hippolytus, edited and translated by Richard Lattimore, et. al. University of Chicago Press, 2013.

Love distills desire upon the eyes,
love brings bewitching grace into the heart
of those he would destroy.
I pray that love may never come to me
with murderous intent,
in rhythms measureless and wild.
Not fire nor stars have stronger bolts
than those of Aphrodite sent
by the hand of Eros, Zeus' child.

Euripides

Hippolytus

Buy Hippolytus at Amazon Buy Hippolytus at Amazon
Read Hippolytus at the MIT's classics department website

More information about this quote

Topic

Power of love Love

Speaker

Chorus

Author

Euripides

Source

Hippolytus

Medium

Play

Genre

Greek tragedy Tragedy (play)

Language

Greek

Time

428 BC 420s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Euripides. Ἱππόλυτος [Hippolytus]. 428 BC, City Dionysia festival, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

Euripides. "Hippolytus." Euripides I: Alcestis, Medea, The Children of Heracles, Hippolytus, edited and translated by Richard Lattimore, et. al. University of Chicago Press, 2013.

But ever-ageing Time teaches all things.

Aeschylus

Prometheus Bound

Buy Prometheus Bound at Amazon Buy Prometheus Bound at Amazon
Read Prometheus Bound at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

Topic

Time as teacher Time

Speaker

Prometheus

Author

Aeschylus

Source

Prometheus Bound

Medium

Play

Genre

Greek tragedy Tragedy (play)

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

Greek

Time

424 BC 420s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Aeschylus. The Libation Bearers. c. 458 BC, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

Aeschylus. "The Libation Bearers." The Oresteia: Agamemnon; The Libation Bearers; The Eumenides, edited and translated by Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics, 1984.

You have all the characteristics of a popular politician: a horrible voice, bad breeding and a vulgar manner.

Demosthenes

The Knights

Buy Knights at Amazon Buy Knights at Amazon

More information about this quote

Topic

Venality of politicians Politicians

Speaker

Demosthenes

Author

Aristophanes

Source

The Knights

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedic play Greek theater

Language

Greek

Time

424 BC 420s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Aristophanes. Ἱππεῖς Hippeîs [The Knights]. 424 BC, Lenaia Festival, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

Aristophanes. "The Knights." The Birds and Other Plays, translated by Alan H. Sommerstein. Penguin Classics, 2003.

We know the good, we apprehend it clearly,
but we can't bring it to achievement.

Euripides

Hippolytus

Buy Hippolytus at Amazon Buy Hippolytus at Amazon
Read Hippolytus at the MIT's classics department website

More information about this quote

Topic

The good Doing the right thing

Speaker

Phaedra

Author

Euripides

Source

Hippolytus

Medium

Play

Genre

Greek tragedy Tragedy (play)

Language

Greek

Time

428 BC 420s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Euripides. Ἱππόλυτος [Hippolytus]. 428 BC, City Dionysia festival, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

Euripides. "Hippolytus." Euripides I: Alcestis, Medea, The Children of Heracles, Hippolytus, edited and translated by Richard Lattimore, et. al. University of Chicago Press, 2013.