Classical antiquity

Explore 1180 quotes from Classical antiquity

Be happy, drink, think each day your own as you live it and leave the rest to fortune.

Euripides

Alcestis

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Topic

Letting go Contentment Happiness Fate

Speaker

Heracles

Author

Euripides

Source

Alcestis

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragedy (play)

Language

Greek

Time

438 BC 430s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Euripides. Ἄλκηστις [Alcestis]. 438 BC, City Dionysia festival, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

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

As is the mother, so is her daughter.

Ezekiel 16:44

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Topic

Mothers and daughters Parents and children

Source

Ezekiel The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Hebrew

Time

570 BC 570s BC 6th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Ezekiel 16:44).

Nothing has yet been said that's not been said before.

Terence

The Eunuch

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Topic

Nothing new under the sun

Author

Terence

Source

The Eunuch

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

Language

Latin

Time

161 BC 160s BC 2nd century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Terence. Eunuchus [The Eunuch]. 161 BC, Megalesian Games, Rome, Italy, prologue.

Never find delight in another's misfortune.

Publilius Syrus

Sententiae

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Topic

Misfortunes of others

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.

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?

Apostle Paul

1st Corinthians 6:19

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Topic

Body as a temple Human body

Author

Apostle Paul

Source

1st Corinthians The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Statement Type

Question

Language

Greek

Time

55 50s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible, New International Version. International Bible Society, 1978. (1st Corinthians 6:19).

Behold the man!

Pontius Pilate

John 19:5

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Topic

Jesus

Speaker

Pontius Pilate

Source

Gospel of John The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Greek

Time

90 90s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (John 19:5).

Some people ask, "What if the sky were to fall?"

Terence

The Self-Tormentor

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Topic

Pessimism

Speaker

Syrus

Author

Terence

Source

The Self-Tormentor

Medium

Play

Language

Latin

Time

163 BC 160s BC 2nd century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Terence. Heauton Timorumenos [The Self-Tormentor]. c. 163 BC, act 4, sc. 3.

Current Citation

Terence. "The Self-Tormentor." The Comedies, translated by Betty Radice. Penguin Classics, 1976.

Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk.

Jesus

Mark 2:9

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Topic

Jesus's miracles

Speaker

Jesus

Source

Gospel of Mark The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Statement Type

Question

Language

Greek

Time

60 60s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Mark 2:9).

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 1:14

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Topic

Nothing new under the sun Meaninglessness Resignation Pessimism

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 1:14).

A gray head is a crown of glory; It is found in the way of righteousness.

Proverbs 16:31

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Topic

Old age

Source

Proverbs The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Hebrew

Time

686 BC 680s BC 7th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. The Lockman Foundation, 1971. (Proverbs 16:31).

These times have the rare good fortune that you may think what you like and say what you think.

Tacitus

More information about this quote

Topic

Freedom of speech and expression

Author

Tacitus

Source

Histories (Tacitus)

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Latin

Time

110 BC 110s BC 2nd century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Tacitus. Historiae [Histories]. Venice, c. 110, bk. 1, ch. 1.

Current Citation

Tacitus. The Histories, translated by W. H. Fyfe. Oxford University Press, 2008, bk. 1, ch. 1.

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Psalm 139:14

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Topic

Praising God

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 139:14).

And ye shall eat the fat of the land.

God

Genesis 45:18

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Topic

Prosperity God's blessing

Speaker

God

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 45:18).

Jesus wept.

John 11:35

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Topic

Crying

Source

Gospel of John The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Greek

Time

90 90s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (John 11:35).

Therefore death is nothing to us, it matters not one jot, since the nature of the mind is understood to be mortal.

Lucretius

On the Nature of Things

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Topic

Facing death Fear of death Death

Author

Lucretius

Source

On the Nature of Things

Medium

Poem

Genre

Didactic poem Philosophical literature

Language

Latin

Time

55 BC 50s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. De Rerum Natura [On the Nature of Things]. c. 55 BC, bk. 3, l. 830.

Current Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. The Nature of Things, translated by Alicia Stallings. Penguin Classics, 2007, bk. 3, l. 830.

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.

Genesis 37:3

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Topic

Color Clothing

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 37:3).

And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.

Genesis 1:16

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Topic

The sun The moon Creation of the world

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 1:16).

I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live

Jesus

John 11:25

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Topic

Nature of Jesus Salvation Jesus

Speaker

Jesus

Source

Gospel of John The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Greek

Time

90 90s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (John 11:25).

You will have written exceptionally well if, by skillful arrangement of your words, you have made an ordinary one seem original.

Horace

Ars Poetica

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Topic

Writing

Author

Horace

Source

Ars Poetica

Medium

Poem

Language

Latin

Time

19 BC 10s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Horace. Ars Poetica [The Art of Poetry]. c. 19 BC, l. 47.

Current Citation

Horace. "Ars Poetica." Satires, Epistles, Ars Poetica, translated by H. R. Fairclough. Harvard University Press, 1929, l. 47.

A hidden connection is stronger than an obvious one.

Heraclitus

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Topic

Interconnectedness of all things

Speaker

Heraclitus

Medium

Presocratic fragment Fragment

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

475 BC 470s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Heraclitus. Fragments. 5th century BC, DK B54.

Current Citation

Heraclitus. Fragments, translated by Brooks Haxton. Penguin Classics, 2003.