Classical antiquity

Explore 1180 quotes from Classical antiquity

We learn an art or craft by doing the things that we shall have to do when we have learnt it.

Aristotle

The Nicomachean Ethics

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Topic

Practice Learning Self-improvement

Author

Aristotle

Source

The Nicomachean Ethics

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

322 BC 320s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Aristotle. Ἠθικὰ Νικομάχεια, Ēthika Nikomacheia [Nicomachean Ethics]. c. 322 BC.

Current Citation

Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics, translated by Terence Irwin. Hackett Publishing, 2019, bk. 2.

Behold! human beings living in an underground den... Like ourselves... They see only their own shadows, or the shadows of one another, which the fire throws on the opposite wall of the cave.

Socrates

Quoted in Republic, by Plato

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Topic

Ignorance Education

Speaker

Socrates

Author

Plato

Source

Republic

Medium

Philosophical dialogue Dialogue

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

375 BC 370s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Socrates. Quoted in Πολιτεία [Republic], written by Plato. c. 375 BCE.

Current Citation

Socrates. Quoted in Republic, written by Plato, translated by Desmond Lee. Penguin Classics, 2007.

There cannot be salvation for any, except in the Church.

St. Cyprian

More information about this quote

Topic

Catholic church Salvation Christianity

Author

St. Cyprian

Medium

Letter

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Latin

Time

256 250s 3rd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Saint Cyprian. Letter to Jubaianus. c. 256, sect. 21.

Give me but one firm spot on which to stand and I will move the earth.

Archimedes

Quoted in History of the World, by Diodorus Siculus

On the action of a lever.

More information about this quote

Topic

Laws of physics Physics

Speaker

Archimedes

Author

Diodorus Siculus

Source

History of the World

Language

Greek

Time

212 BC 210s BC 3rd century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Archimedes. Quoted in History of the World, written by Diodorus Siculus. c. 20 BC.

Current Citation

Archimedes. Quoted in Diodorus Siculus: Library of History, Volume IX, Books 18-19.65. Harvard University Press, 1947.

In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me.

Psalm 120:1

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Topic

God's comfort Prayer

Source

Psalms The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Hebrew

Time

450 BC 450s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Psalm 120:1).

Old to grow, but ever learning.

Solon

Quoted in Plutarch's Lives, by Plutarch

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Topic

Learning Wisdom Aging Old age

Speaker

Solon

Author

Plutarch

Source

Solon Plutarch's Lives

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

119 110s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Plutarch. Βίοι Παράλληλοι [Parallel Lives]. Rome, 1470.

Time, the devourer of all things.

Ovid

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Topic

Effects of time Relentlessness of time Time

Author

Ovid

Source

Metamorphoses

Medium

Poem

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

Latin

Time

8 0s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Ovid. Metamorphōsēs [Metamorphoses]. c. 8 CE, bk. 15, l. 234.

Current Citation

Ovid. Metamorphoses, translated by David Raeburn. Penguin Classics, 2004, bk. 15, l. 234.

Then one day there really was a wolf but when the boy shouted, they didn't believe him.

Aesop

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

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Topic

False alarms Alarmism

Author

Aesop

Source

The Boy Who Cried Wolf Aesop's Fables

Medium

Fable and fairytale

Genre

Children's literature

Language

Greek

Time

6th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 0

Original Citation

Aesop. "The Boy Who Cried Wolf." Aesop's Fables. c. 600.

Current Citation

Aesop. "The Boy Who Cried Wolf." Aesop's Fables. Oxford University Press, 2008.

Where some people are very wealthy and others have nothing, the result will be either extreme democracy or absolute oligarchy, or despotism will come from either of those excesses.

Aristotle

Politics

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Topic

Economic inequality Decline of democracy Tyranny

Author

Aristotle

Source

Politics

Genre

Political literature Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

350 BC 350s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Aristotle. Politics. 4th century BC, bk. 4.

Current Citation

Aristotle. Politics, translated by R. F. Stalley and Sir Ernest Barker. Oxford University Press, 2009, bk. 4.

Between us and excellence, the gods have placed the sweat of our brows.

Hesiod

Works and Days

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Topic

Hard work Excellence Character Virtue The human condition

Author

Hesiod

Source

Works and Days

Medium

Poem

Genre

Didactic poem

Language

Greek

Time

700 BC 700s BC 8th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Hesiod. Ἔργα καὶ Ἡμέραι [Works and Days]. c. 700 BC, l. 289.

Current Citation

Hesiod. "Works and Days." Theogony and Works and Days, translated by M. L. West. Oxford University Press, 2009, l. 289.

Happiness depends on being free, and freedom depends on being courageous.

Pericles

Quoted in Funeral Oration, by Thucydides

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Topic

Happiness Freedom Courage

Speaker

Pericles

Author

Thucydides

Source

Funeral Oration History of the Peloponnesian War

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

430 BC 430s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Pericles. Quoted in The History of the Peloponnesian War. c. 431 BC, bk. 2.

Current Citation

Pericles. Quoted in The Peloponnesian War, translated by Martin Hammond. Oxford University Press, 2009, bk. 2.

Only two things does he anxiously wish for-bread and circuses.

Juvenal

Satires

On the modern (at that time) Roman citizen.

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Topic

The masses Entertainment Purpose of life Decline of civilization

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 10.

Current Citation

Juvenal. The Satires, translated by Niall Rudd. Oxford University Press, 2008, satire 10.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Apostle Paul

Romans 10:13

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Topic

Seeking God Salvation

Author

Apostle Paul

Source

Romans The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Greek

Time

56 50s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Romans 10:13).

The traveler with nothing on him sings in the robber’s face.

Juvenal

Satires

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Topic

Traveling lightly Travel

Author

Juvenal

Source

Satires

Medium

Poem

Statement Type

Proverbs, aphorisms and adages

Language

Latin

Time

2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Juvenal. Satirae [Satires]. c. 127, satire 10.

Current Citation

Juvenal. The Satires, translated by Niall Rudd. Oxford University Press, 2008, satire 10.

Eureka!

Archimedes

Quoted in De Architectura, by Vitruvius

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Topic

Discovery

Speaker

Archimedes

Author

Vitruvius

Source

De Architectura

Language

Greek

Time

212 BC 210s BC 3rd century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Archimedes. Stated this after stepping into a bath and noticed that the water level rose. c. 212 BC.

Current Citation

Archimedes. Quoted in Vitruvius: The Ten Books on Architecture by Vitruvius, translated by Morris Hicky Morgan. Dover Publications, 1960.

Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Revelation 2:10

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Topic

Faith

Source

Revelation The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Greek

Time

96 90s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Revelation 2:10).

Be like a headland of rock on which the waves break incessantly: but it stands fast and around it the seething of the waters sinks to rest.

Marcus Aurelius

Meditations

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Topic

Steadfastness Dependability Inner strength Courage

Author

Marcus Aurelius

Source

Meditations

Medium

Personal journal

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Advice Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

Greek

Time

180 180s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 1

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.

For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.

Luke 15:24

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Topic

Prodigal son Forgiveness Reconciliation

Source

Gospel of Luke The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Greek

Time

61 60s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Luke 15:24).

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Jesus

Matthew 6:33

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Topic

Seeking God Seeking Sermon on the Mount

Speaker

Jesus

Source

Gospel of Matthew The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Statement Type

Advice

Language

Greek

Time

60 60s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Matthew 6:33).

How long are you going to wait before you demand the best for yourself?

Epictetus

The Enchiridion

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Author

Epictetus

Source

The Enchiridion

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Question

Language

Greek

Time

135 130s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Epictetus. Ἐγχειρίδιον Ἐπικτήτου, Enkheirídion Epiktḗtou [Enchiridion of Epictetus]. c. 125 CE, ch. 51.

Current Citation

Epictetus. Enchiridion, translated by George Long. Dover Publications, 2004, ch. 51.