Classical antiquity

Explore 1180 quotes from Classical antiquity

Am I my brother's keeper?

Cain

Genesis 4:9

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Topic

Brothers Siblings Family

Speaker

Cain

Source

Genesis The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Statement Type

Question

Language

Hebrew

Time

1405 BC 1400s BC 15th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Genesis 4:9).

It is part of human nature to hate the man you have hurt.

Tacitus

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Topic

Hurting others Hate Human nature

Author

Tacitus

Source

Agricola

Genre

Biography

Statement Type

Paradox

Language

Latin

Time

56 50s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Tacitus. Agricola. c. 98.

Current Citation

Tacitus. "Agricola." Agricola and Germany, translated by Anthony Birley. Oxford University Press, 2009.

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

Moses

Deuteronomy 6:4

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Topic

Monotheism Nature of God God

Speaker

Moses

Source

Deuteronomy The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Hebrew

Time

1405 BC 1400s BC 15th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible, New International Version. International Bible Society, 1978. (Deuteronomy 6:4).

The man who has planned badly, if fortune is on his side, may have had a stroke of luck; but his plan was a bad one nonetheless.

Herodotus

Histories

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Topic

Bad decisions Good luck Fortune

Speaker

Artabanos

Author

Herodotus

Source

Histories

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

430 BC 430s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Herodotus. Ἱστορίαι [Histories]. c. 430 BC, bk. 7, sect. 10.

Current Citation

Herodotus. The Histories, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2008, bk. 7, sect. 10.

They change their clime, not their disposition, who run across the sea.

Horace

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Topic

Running away Change of scenery

Author

Horace

Source

Epistles 1

Medium

Letter

Statement Type

Proverbs, aphorisms and adages

Language

Latin

Time

20 BC 20s 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Horace. Epistularum liber primus [First Book of Letters]. 20 BC, bk. 1, epistle 11.

Current Citation

Horace. "Epistles." Satires and Epistles, translated by John Davie. Oxford University Press, 2011, bk. 1, epistle 11.

The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing, for it requires that we should stand ready and firm to meet onsets which are sudden and unexpected.

Marcus Aurelius

Meditations

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Topic

Living well Adaptability Improvisation Life

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. 7.

Current Citation

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

All wish to be learned, but no one is willing to pay the price.

Juvenal

Satires

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Topic

Hard work Sacrifice Learning Education

Author

Juvenal

Source

Satires

Medium

Poem

Genre

Satire

Language

Latin

Time

100 100s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 0

Original Citation

Juvenal. Satirae [Satires]. c. 127, satire 7.

Current Citation

Juvenal. The Satires, translated by Niall Rudd. Oxford University Press, 2008, satire 7.

Truth does not blush.

Tertullian

Against the Valentinians

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Topic

Truth

Author

Tertullian

Source

Against the Valentinians

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Latin

Time

207 200s 3rd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Tertullian. Adversus Valentinianos [Against the Valentinians]. c. 207 CE, sect. 3.

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Hebrews 13:2

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Topic

Guests and visitors Hospitality

Source

Hebrews The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Greek

Time

69 60s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Hebrews 13:2).

The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Jesus

Matthew 20:28

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Topic

Jesus The crucifixion

Speaker

Jesus

Source

Gospel of Matthew The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Greek

Time

60 60s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Matthew 20:28).

Fortune assists the brave.

Terence

More information about this quote

Topic

Taking risks Courage Fortune

Author

Terence

Source

Phormio

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

Language

Latin

Time

161 BC 160s BC 2nd century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Terence. Phormio. 161 BC, Ludi Romani, Rome, Italy.

It would not be better if things happened to men just as they wish.

Heraclitus

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Topic

Wish fulfillment Adversity

Author

Heraclitus

Medium

Presocratic fragment Fragment

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Heraclitus. Fragments. 5th century BC, DK B110.

Current Citation

Heraclitus. "Heraclitus of Ephesus." The First Philosophers: The Presocratics and Sophists, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2009, DK B110.

I call a fig a fig, a spade a spade.

Menander

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Topic

Keeping it real Honesty

Author

Menander

Medium

Fragment

Language

Greek

Time

290 BC 290s BC 3rd century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Plutarch. Apophthegmata Laconica. c. 100 AD.

Man, like a light in the night, is kindled and put out.

Heraclitus

More information about this quote

Topic

Ephemeral nature of life The human condition

Author

Heraclitus

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

480 BC 480s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Heraclitus. On the Universe. c. 500 BC, no. 77.

Current Citation

Heraclitus. "On the Universe." Hippocrates, translated by W. H. S. Jones. Vol. 4, Harvard University Press, 1931, no. 77.

To do two things at once is to do neither.

Publilius Syrus

Sententiae

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Topic

Multitasking Finishing a task

Author

Publilius Syrus

Source

Sententiae

Medium

Epigram

Language

Latin

Time

43 BC 40s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Publilius Syrus. Sententiae. c. 1st century BC.

To be ignorant of what happened before you were born is to be ever a child.

Cicero

More information about this quote

Topic

Ignorance of history History Ignorance

Author

Cicero

Source

Orator ad M. Brutum

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Latin

Time

46 BC 40s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Cicero, Marcus Tullius. Orator ad M. Brutum. c. 46 B. C., ch. 34, sect. 120.

Everything flows and nothing stays.

Heraclitus

Quoted in Cratylus, by Plato

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Topic

The only constant is change Impermanence Change

Speaker

Heraclitus

Author

Plato

Source

Cratylus

Medium

Philosophical dialogue

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

348 BC 340s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Heraclitus. Quoted in Κρατύλος [Cratylus], by Plato. c. 348 BC, sect. 402a.

Current Citation

Heraclitus. Quoted in Craylus, by Plato. Aeterna Press, 2015, sect. 402a.

All that is in harmony for you, my Universe, is in harmony with me as well. Nothing that comes at the right time for you is too early or too late for me. Everything is fruit to me that your seasons bring, Nature. All things come of you, have their being in you, and return to you.

Marcus Aurelius

Meditations

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Topic

Man and the universe Man and nature

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. 4.

Current Citation

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

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

1st John 4:15

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Topic

Faith

Source

1st John The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Greek

Time

95 90s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (1st John 4:15).

All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.

Jesus

Matthew 25:32

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Topic

Judgment Day

Speaker

Jesus

Source

Gospel of Matthew The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Greek

Time

60 60s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Matthew 25:32).