Ancient Greece

Explore 296 quotes by people from Ancient Greece

No tyrant need fear till men begin to feel confident in each other.

Aristotle

Politics

Buy Politics at Amazon Buy Politics at Amazon
Read Politics at MIT's classics department website

More information about this quote

Topic

Seeds of revolution Revolution Tyranny Political theory Politics

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. 5.

Current Citation

Aristotle. Politics, translated by R. F. Stalley and Sir Ernest Barker. Oxford University Press, 2009, bk. 5.

One soul dwelling in two bodies.

Aristotle

Quoted in The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, by Diogenes Laërtius

On the nature of friendship.

Buy The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers at Amazon Buy The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers at Amazon
Read The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

Topic

Friends Friendship

Speaker

Aristotle

Author

Diogenes Laërtius

Source

The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers

Genre

Biography Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

3rd century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Aristotle. Quoted in Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, written by Diogenes Laertius. c. 240 AD, bk. 5, ch. 1, sect. 20.

Current Citation

Aristotle. Quoted in The Lives of Eminent Philosophers, written by Diogenes Laërtius, translated by Pamela Mensch, edited by James Miller. Oxford University Press, 2018, bk. 5, ch. 1, sect. 20.

Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods.

Aristotle

The Nicomachean Ethics

Buy the Nicomachean Ethics at Amazon Buy the Nicomachean Ethics at Amazon
Read the Nicomachean Ethics at MIT's classics department website

More information about this quote

Topic

Value of friendship Friends Friendship

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. 8.

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

Buy the Nicomachean Ethics at Amazon Buy the Nicomachean Ethics at Amazon
Read the Nicomachean Ethics at MIT's classics department website

More information about this quote

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

Buy the Republic at Amazon Buy the Republic at Amazon
Read the Republic at MIT's classics department website

More information about this quote

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.

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.

Old to grow, but ever learning.

Solon

Quoted in Plutarch's Lives, by Plutarch

Buy Plutarch's Lives, Volume 1 at Amazon Buy Plutarch's Lives, Volume 1 at Amazon
Read Plutarch's Lives at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

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.

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

Aesop

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

Buy Aesop's Fables at Amazon Buy Aesop's Fables at Amazon
Read The Boy Who Cried Wolf at mythfolklore.net

More information about this quote

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

Buy Politics at Amazon Buy Politics at Amazon
Read Politics at MIT's classics department website

More information about this quote

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

Buy Works and Days at Amazon Buy Works and Days at Amazon
Read Works and Days at Harvard's classics page

More information about this quote

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

Buy History of the Peloponnesian War at Amazon Buy History of the Peloponnesian War at Amazon
Read History of the Peloponnesian War at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

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.

Eureka!

Archimedes

Quoted in De Architectura, by Vitruvius

Buy Vitruvius: The Ten Books of Architecture at Amazon Buy Vitruvius: The Ten Books of Architecture at Amazon
Read De Architectura at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

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.

Do not speak ill of the dead.

Chilon

Quoted in The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, by Diogenes Laërtius

Buy The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers at Amazon Buy The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers at Amazon
Read The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

Topic

Speaking ill of the dead

Speaker

Chilon

Author

Diogenes Laërtius

Source

The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

400 400s 3rd century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Chilon. Quoted in The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, written by Diogenes Laërtius. c. 240 AD, bk. 1, ch. 3.

Current Citation

Chilon. Quoted in The Lives of Eminent Philosophers, written by Diogenes Laërtius, translated by Pamela Mensch, edited by James Miller. Oxford University Press, 2018, bk. 1, ch. 3.

This only is denied even to God,
The power to make what has been done undone.

Agathon

Quoted in The Nicomachean Ethics, by Aristotle

Buy the Nicomachean Ethics at Amazon Buy the Nicomachean Ethics at Amazon
Read the Nicomachean Ethics at MIT's classics department website

More information about this quote

Topic

God's power God Changing the past The past

Speaker

Agathon

Author

Aristotle

Source

The Nicomachean Ethics

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

350 BC 350s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Agathon. Quoted in Ἠθικὰ Νικομάχεια, Ēthika Nikomacheia [Nicomachean Ethics], written by Aristotle. c. 350 BC, bk. 6.

Current Citation

Agathon. Quoted in Nicomachean Ethics, written by Aristotle, translated by Terence Irwin. Hackett Publishing Company, 2019, bk. 7, ch. 2.

We are lovers of beauty without extravagance, and lovers of wisdom without unmanliness. Wealth is to us is not mere material for vainglory but an opportunity for achievement; and poverty we think it no disgrace to acknowledge but a real degradation to make no effort to overcome.

Pericles

Quoted in Funeral Oration, by Thucydides

Buy History of the Peloponnesian War at Amazon Buy History of the Peloponnesian War at Amazon
Read History of the Peloponnesian War at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

Topic

Golden mean

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.

You know as well as we do that right, as the word goes, is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.

Thucydides

History of the Peloponnesian War

Buy History of the Peloponnesian War at Amazon Buy History of the Peloponnesian War at Amazon
Read History of the Peloponnesian War at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

Topic

Justice Power relations Political theory

Author

Thucydides

Source

History of the Peloponnesian War

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

404 BC 400s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Thucydides. The History of the Peloponnesian War. c. 431 BC, bk. 5.

Current Citation

Thucydides. The Peloponnesian War, translated by Martin Hammond. Oxford University Press, 2009, bk. 5.

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

Heraclitus

Buy Heraclitus' Fragments at Amazon Buy Heraclitus' Fragments at Amazon

More information about this quote

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.

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

Herodotus

Buy The Histories at Amazon Buy The Histories at Amazon
Read The Histories at uchicago.edu

More information about this quote

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.

The object of education is to teach us to love what is beautiful.

Socrates

Quoted in Republic, by Plato

Buy the Republic at Amazon Buy the Republic at Amazon
Read the Republic at MIT's classics department website

More information about this quote

Topic

Purpose of education Education

Speaker

Socrates

Author

Plato

Source

Republic

Medium

Philosophical dialogue

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

375 BC 370s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

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.