Classical antiquity

Explore 1180 quotes from Classical antiquity

You cannot conceive the many without the one.

Plato

Parmenides

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Topic

Monism Philosophical theory

Author

Plato

Source

Parmenides

Medium

Philosophical dialogue Dialogue

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Paradox

Language

Greek

Time

340 BC 340s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Plato. Παρμενίδης [Parmenides]. 4th century BC.

Current Citation

Plato. Parmenides, translated by Andre Schuwer and Richard Rojcewicz. Indiana University Press, 1998.

It is no cause for anger that the Trojans and the well-greaved Achaeans have suffered for so long over such a woman: she is wondrously like the immortal goddesses to look upon.

Homer

The Iliad

On Helen of Troy.

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Topic

Women's attractiveness

Speaker

The Trojans

Author

Homer

Source

The Iliad

Medium

Poem

Genre

Epic poem

Language

Greek

Time

700 BC 700s BC 8th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Homer. Ἰλιάς [The Iliad], edited by Demetrius Chalcondyles. Florence: Bernardus Nerlius and Demetrius Damilas, 1489, bk. 3, l. 156.

Current Citation

Homer. The Iliad, translated by Robert Fitzgerald. Oxford University Press, 2014, bk. 3, l. 156.

The immortals will send you to the Elysian plain at the ends of the earth, where fair-haired Rhadamanthys is. There life is supremely easy for men. No snow is there, nor ever heavy winter storm, nor rain, and Ocean is ever sending gusts of the clear-blowing west wind to bring coolness to men.

Homer

The Odyssey

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Topic

Elysian Fields The afterlife

Author

Homer

Source

The Odyssey

Medium

Poem

Genre

Epic poem

Language

Greek

Time

700 BC 700s BC 8th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Homer. Ὀδύσσεια [Odyssey]. c. 710 BC, bk. 4, l. 563-568.

Current Citation

Homer. The Odyssey, edited by Bernard Knox, translated by Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics, 2006, bk. 4, l. 563-568.

Misfortune shows those who are not really friends.

Aristotle

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Topic

Adversity Tests of friendship Friend

Author

Aristotle

Source

Eudemian Ethics

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

350 BC 350s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Aristotle. Ἠθικὰ Εὐδήμεια [Eudemian Ethics]. c. 350 BC.

Current Citation

Aristotle. The Eudemian Ethics, translated by Anthony Kenny. Oxford University Press, 2011.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Jesus

Matthew 5:4

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Topic

Mourning Loss Beatitudes Sermon on the Mount

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 5:4).

He who is unable to live in society, or who has no need because he is sufficient for himself, must either be a beast or a god.

Aristotle

Politics

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Topic

Man as social animal Man and animals

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. 1.

Current Citation

Aristotle. Politics, translated by R. F. Stalley and Sir Ernest Barker. Oxford University Press, 2009, bk. 1.

I would rather be tied to the soil as another man's serf, even a poor man's, who hadn't much to live on himself, than be King of all these the dead and destroyed.

Homer

The Odyssey

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Topic

Life is precious Life and death

Speaker

Odysseus

Author

Homer

Source

The Odyssey

Medium

Poem

Genre

Epic poem

Language

Greek

Time

700 BC 700s BC 8th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Homer. Ὀδύσσεια [Odyssey]. c. 710 BC, bk. 11, l. 489-491.

Current Citation

Homer. The Odyssey, edited by Bernard Knox, translated by Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics, 2006, bk. 11, l. 489-491.

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 equally wrong to speed a guest who does not want to go, and to keep one back who is eager. You ought to make welcome the present guest, and send forth the one who wishes to go.

Homer

The Odyssey

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Topic

Hospitality Guests and visitors

Author

Homer

Source

The Odyssey

Medium

Poem

Genre

Epic poem

Language

Greek

Time

700 BC 700s BC 8th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Homer. Ὀδύσσεια [Odyssey]. c. 710 BC, bk. 15, l. 72-74.

Current Citation

Homer. The Odyssey, edited by Bernard Knox, translated by Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics, 2006, bk. 15, l. 72-74.

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.

Time crumbles things; everything grows old under the power of time and is forgotten through the lapse of time.

Aristotle

Physics

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Topic

Ravages of time Effects of time Time

Author

Aristotle

Source

Physics

Genre

Scientific literature

Language

Greek

Time

350 BC 350s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Aristotle. Φυσικὴ ἀκρόασις Phusike akroasis [Physics]. 4th century BC.

Current Citation

Aristotle. Physics, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2008.

Who has knowledge of what is to be dreaded and what is not—the man whom I call courageous?

Nicias

Quoted in Laches, by Plato

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Topic

Courage vs. fear Courage

Speaker

Nicias

Author

Plato

Source

Laches

Medium

Philosophical dialogue Dialogue

Statement Type

Definition

Language

Greek

Time

380 BC 380s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Nicias. Quoted in Λάχης [Laches], written by Plato. c. 348 BC, sect. 195d.

Current Citation

Nicias. Quoted in "Laches." Plato: Complete Works, edited by John M. Cooper and D. S. Hutchinson. Hackett Publishing, 1997, sect. 195d.

Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more.

Jesus

John 8:11

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Topic

Forgiveness Sin

Speaker

Jesus

Source

Gospel of John The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Statement Type

Orders and commands

Language

Greek

Time

90 90s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (John 8:11).

Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

Genesis 1:3

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Topic

Light Creation of the world Creation

Source

Genesis 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: The King James Version. 1611. (Genesis 1:3).

It is perfectly certain that the soul is immortal and imperishable, and our souls will actually exist in another world.

Socrates

Quoted in Phaedo, by Plato

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Topic

The soul The afterlife

Speaker

Socrates

Author

Plato

Source

Phaedo

Medium

Philosophical dialogue Dialogue

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

347 BC 340s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Socrates. Quoted in Φαίδων [Phaedo], written by Plato. c. 360 BC.

Current Citation

Socrates. Quoted in "Phaedo." Plato: Five Dialogues: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo, written by Plato, translated by G. M. A. Grube and John M. Cooper. Hackett Publishing, 2002.

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Jesus

Matthew 5:14

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Topic

City on a hill Beacon Sermon on the Mount

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, New King James Version. Thomas Nelson, 1982. (Matthew 5:14).

We secure our friends not by accepting favors, but by doing them.

Pericles

Quoted in Funeral Oration, by Thucydides

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Topic

Allies

Speaker

Pericles

Author

Thucydides

Source

Funeral Oration History of the Peloponnesian War

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

430 BC 430s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Thucydides. The History of the Peloponnesian War. c. 431 BC, bk. 2.

Current Citation

Thucydides. The Peloponnesian War, translated by Martin Hammond. Oxford University Press, 2009, bk. 2.

Tomorrow we shall sail again on the vast ocean.

Horace

Odes

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Topic

Sailing Ocean and sea

Author

Horace

Source

Odes

Medium

Poem

Language

Latin

Time

23 BC 20s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Horace. Carmina [Odes]. 23 BC, bk. 1, no. 7.

Current Citation

Horace. "Odes." The Complete Odes and Epodes, translated by David West. Oxford University Press, 2008, bk. 1, no. 7.

A man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry.

Ecclesiastes 8:15

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Topic

Living in the moment Enjoying life Life

Source

Ecclesiastes The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Hebrew

Time

931 BC 930s BC 10th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Ecclesiastes 8:15).