Classical antiquity

Explore 1180 quotes from Classical antiquity

One cannot step twice into the same river, for the waters are continually flowing on.

Heraclitus

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Topic

The only constant is change Change Rivers

Author

Heraclitus

Medium

Presocratic fragment Fragment

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Paradox

Language

Greek

Time

5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Heraclitus. Fragments. 5th century BC, DK B12.

Current Citation

Heraclitus. "Heraclitus of Ephesus." The First Philosophers: The Presocratics and Sophists, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2009, DK B12.

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Jesus

Matthew 26:26-28

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Topic

Communion The Lord's Supper

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 26:26-28).

For I am the Lord, I change not.

Malachi 3:6

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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).

No guest is so welcome in a friend's house that he will not become a nuisance after three days.

Plautus

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Topic

Wearing out one's welcome Hospitality Guests and visitors

Speaker

Pleusicles

Author

Plautus

Source

Miles Gloriosus

Medium

Play

Language

Latin

Time

200 BC 200s BC 3rd century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Plautus. Miles Gloriosus. c. 206 BC, Rome, Italy, act 3, sc. 1.

Current Citation

Plautus. Miles Gloriosus, edited by Mason Hammond, Arthur W. Mack, and Walter Moskalew. Harvard University Press, 1997, act 3, sc. 1.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

Apostle Paul

1st Corinthians 13:4-8

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Topic

Nature of love Love

Author

Apostle Paul

Source

1st Corinthians The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

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 13:4-8).

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Apostle Paul

Romans 5:8

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Topic

Jesus's death Forgiveness of sins

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 5:8).

Whoever destroys a single life is as guilty as though he had destroyed the entire world; and whoever rescues a single life earns as much merit as though he had rescued the entire world.

The Talmud

More information about this quote

Topic

Moral theory

Source

The Talmud

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Statement Type

Precepts and axioms

Language

Hebrew

Time

200 200s 3rd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Talmud. Mishnah, Sanhedrin 4:9:1.

Current Citation

The Talmud: A Selection, translated by Norman Solomon. Penguin Classics, 2009, Fourth Order Neziqin, Fourth Tractate Sanhedrin (The Court) 4:9:1.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2:6, 7

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Topic

Jesus's birth Nativity story

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 2:6-7).

Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?

God

Acts 9:4

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Topic

Religious persecution

Speaker

God

Source

Book of Acts The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Statement Type

Question

Language

Greek

Time

62 60s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

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

If cows and horses or lions had hands, or could draw with their hands and make things as men can, horses would have drawn horse-like gods, cows cow-like gods, and each species would have made the gods' bodies just like their own.

Xenophanes

More information about this quote

Topic

Nature of God God and man God Anthropomorphism

Author

Xenophanes

Medium

Presocratic fragment Fragment

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 0

Original Citation

Xenophanes. Fragments. 5th century BC, DK21 B15.

Current Citation

Xenophanes. "Xenophanes of Colophon." The First Philosophers: The Presocratics and Sophists. Oxford World Classics, 2009, DK21 B15.

If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.

Jesus

Mark 9:23

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Topic

Faith

Speaker

Jesus

Source

Gospel of Mark 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. (Mark 9:23).

These eyes of mine would look on only thee
In that last hour when light shall fail.
Embrace me, dear, in death! Let thy hand be
In my cold fingers pale!

Tibullus

More information about this quote

Topic

Lifelong love Love

Author

Tibullus

Source

Elegies (Tibullus)

Medium

Poem

Language

Latin

Time

26 BC 20s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Tibullus. The Elegies of Tibullus. c. 30 BC, bk. 1, no. 1.

Current Citation

Tibullus. Elegies: With Paralell Latin Texts, translated by A. M. Juster. Oxford University Press, 2012, bk. 1, no. 1.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:1

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Topic

Beginning of time God and time

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 1:1).

If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Jesus

Matthew 16:24

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Topic

Following Jesus

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 16:24).

Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again.

Acts 9:18

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Topic

New perspective Seeing Perception

Source

Book of Acts The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Greek

Time

62 60s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible, New International Version. International Bible Society, 1978. (Acts 9:18).

Carthage must be destroyed.

Cato the Elder

Quoted in Plutarch's Lives, by Plutarch

Cato ended several of his speeches with this phrase after his visit to Carthage in 152 BC.

More information about this quote

Topic

War

Speaker

Cato the Elder

Author

Plutarch

Source

Plutarch's Lives

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Statement Type

Declaration

Language

Latin

Time

149 BC 140s BC 2nd century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Cato the Elder. Speech within the Roman Senate prior to the Third Punic War. c. 149 BC, Rome, Italy.

And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

Genesis 2:23

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Topic

Adam and Eve Men and women

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 2:23).

Resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Jesus

Matthew 5:39

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Topic

Turn the other cheek Sermon on the Mount

Speaker

Jesus

Source

Gospel of Matthew The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Statement Type

Orders and commands

Language

Greek

Time

60 60s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Matthew 5:39).

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.

Isaiah 40:8

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Topic

God's word

Source

Isaiah The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Hebrew

Time

681 BC 680s BC 7th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible, New International Version. International Bible Society, 1978. (Isaiah 40:8).

If the Persians hide the sun, the battle will be in shade rather than sunlight.

Herodotus

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Topic

Battle of Thermopylae Courage War

Speaker

Dieneces of Sparta

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. 226.

Current Citation

Herodotus. The Histories, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2008, bk. 7, sect. 226.