Ancient Greece

Explore 296 quotes by people from Ancient Greece

Those who know how to win are much more numerous than those who know how to make proper use of their victories.

Polybius

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Topic

Winning Lack of wisdom

Author

Polybius

Source

Histories (Polybius)

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

117 BC 110s BC 2nd century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Polybius. Ἱστορίαι [Histories]. c. 110 BC, bk. 10.

Current Citation

Polybius. The Histories, translated by W. R. Paton. Vol. 4, Loeb Classical Library, 1992, bk. 10.

In view of that, conceal nothing! For all things are unfolded by all-seeing and all-hearing time.

Sophocles

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Topic

Forthrightness Openness

Author

Sophocles

Source

Hipponous

Medium

Play

Genre

Greek theater

Language

Greek

Time

468 BC 460s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Sophocles. "Hipponous." Fragments. c. 468 BC, frag. 301.

Current Citation

Sophocles. "Hipponous." Fragments, edited and translated by Hugh Lloyd-Jones. Harvard University Press, 1996, frag. 301.

There are in fact two things, science and opinion; the former begets knowledge, the latter ignorance.

Hippocrates

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Topic

Science Scientific method Unfounded beliefs

Author

Hippocrates

Source

Law

Language

Greek

Time

370 BC 370s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Hippocrates. The Law. c. 4th century BC, pt. 4.

Current Citation

Hippocrates. "Canon." Hippocratic Writings, translated by J. Chadwick and W. N. Mann, et al. Penguin Classics, 1984.

There is no witness so dreadful, no accuser so terrible, as the conscience that dwells in the heart of every man.

Polybius

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Topic

Conscience Self-criticism Self-hatred

Author

Polybius

Source

Histories (Polybius)

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

118 BC 110s BC 2nd century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Polybius. Ἱστορίαι [Histories]. c. 110 BC, bk. 18.

Current Citation

Polybius. The Histories, translated by W. R. Paton. Vol. 5, Harvard University Press, 2012, bk. 18.

The tyrant is a child of Pride
Who drinks from his great sickening cup
Recklessness and vanity,
Until from his high crest headlong
He plummets to the dust of hope.

Sophocles

Oedipus Rex

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Topic

Tyrants

Speaker

Chorus

Author

Sophocles

Source

Oedipus Rex

Medium

Play

Genre

Greek tragedy Tragedy (play)

Language

Greek

Time

430 BC 430s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Sophocles. Oedipus Rex. c. 429 BC, Theatre of Dionysus, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

Sophocles. "Oedipus Rex." The Oedipus Cycle: Oedipus Rex; Oedipus at Colonus; Antigone, translated by Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald. Mariner Books, 2002.

Your great glory is not to be inferior to what God has made you, and the greatest glory of a woman is to be least talked about by men, whether they are praising you or criticizing you.

Pericles

Quoted in Funeral Oration, by Thucydides

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Topic

Patriarchy Oppression of women

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.

It is not better for men to get everything they want. Disease makes health pleasant and good, as hunger does being full, and weariness rest.

Heraclitus

More information about this quote

Topic

Wish fulfillment Balance Yin and yang

Author

Heraclitus

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, F16 - DK22 B110.

Current Citation

Xenophanes. "Xenophanes of Colophon." The First Philosophers: The Presocratics and Sophists. Oxford World Classics, 2009, F16 - DK22 B110.

All men whilst they are awake are in one common world; but each of them, when he is asleep, is in a world of his own.

Heraclitus

Quoted in Moralia, by Plutarch

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Topic

Dreams Sleep

Speaker

Heraclitus

Author

Plutarch

Source

On Superstition Moralia

Medium

Essay

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

2nd century BC

Authentication Score 0

Citation

Plutarch. "Περὶ δεισιδαιμονίας [On Superstition]." Moralia [Ἠθικά]. c. 100 AD.

Neither anarchy nor tyranny—this I counsel my citizens to support and respect, and not to drive fear wholly out of the city. For who among mortals, if he fears nothing, is righteous?

Aeschylus

The Eumenides

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Topic

Deterring crime Crime Fear Justice Human nature

Speaker

Athena

Author

Aeschylus

Source

The Eumenides

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragic play Greek theater

Statement Type

Question

Language

Greek

Time

458 BC 450s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Aeschylus. The Eumenides. 458 BC, The Dionysia, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

Aeschylus. "The Eumenides." The Oresteia: Agamemnon; The Libation Bearers; The Eumenides, edited and translated by Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics, 1984.

When men drink, then they are rich and successful and win lawsuits and are happy and help their friends. Quickly, bring me a beaker of wine, so that I may wet my mind and say something clever.

Demosthenes

Knights

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Topic

Reasons to drink Alcohol Getting drunk

Speaker

Demosthenes

Author

Aristophanes

Source

Knights

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

Language

Greek

Time

424 BC 420s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Aristophanes. Ἱππεῖς Hippeîs [The Knights]. 424 BC, Lenaia Festival, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

Aristophanes. "The Knights." The Birds and Other Plays, translated by Alan H. Sommerstein. Penguin Classics, 2003.

Whom the gods love dies young.

Menander

More information about this quote

Topic

Dying young Youth Fate

Author

Menander

Medium

Fragment

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Paradox

Language

Greek

Time

290 BC 290s BC 3rd century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Menander. "Dis Exapaton [The Double Deceiver]." Plays and Fragments. c. 290 BC.

Current Citation

Menander. "Twice a Swindler (Dis Exapaton)." Plays and Fragments, translated by Maurice Balme. Oxford University Press, 2008.

Love, who is most beautiful among the immortal gods, the melter of limbs, overwhelms in their hearts the intelligence and wise counsel of all gods and all men.

Hesiod

Theogony

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Topic

Power of love Love

Author

Hesiod

Source

Theogony

Medium

Poem

Language

Greek

Time

700 BC 700s BC 8th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Hesiod. Θεογονία [Theogony]. c. 700 BC, l. 120-121.

Current Citation

Hesiod. "Theogony." Theogony and Works and Days, translated by M. L. West. Oxford University Press, 2009, l. 120-121.

Education is an ornament for the prosperous, a refuge for the unfortunate.

Democritus

More information about this quote

Topic

Value of education Education

Speaker

Democritus

Source

Tetralogies of Thrasyllus

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

Greek

Time

415 BC 410s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 0

Original Citation

Democritus. Tetralogies of Thrasyllus. c. 420 BC, Fr. 180.

Current Citation

Democritus. Quoted in Ancilla to Pre-Socratic Philosophers, written and translated by Kathleen Freeman. Harvard University Press, 1983.

If one were to order all mankind to choose the best set of rules in the world, each group would, after due consideration, choose its own customs; each group regards its own as being by far the best.

Herodotus

Histories

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Topic

Ethnocentrism Human nature

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. 3, sect. 38.

Current Citation

Herodotus. The Histories, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2008, bk. 3, sect. 38.

Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering.

Aeschylus

Agamemnon

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Topic

School of hard knocks Learning from mistakes Wisdom

Speaker

Chorus (Greek drama)

Author

Aeschylus

Source

Agamemnon

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragic play Greek theater

Language

Greek

Time

458 BC 450s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Aeschylus. Agamemnon. 458 BCE, The Dionysia, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

Aeschylus. "Agamemnon." The Oresteia: Agamemnon; The Libation Bearers; The Eumenides, edited and translated by Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics, 1984.

Many evil men are rich, and good men poor,
But we shall not exchange with them our excellence for riches.

Solon

Quoted in Plutarch's Lives, by Plutarch

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Topic

Virtue Wealth

Speaker

Solon

Author

Plutarch

Source

Solon Plutarch's Lives

Language

Greek

Time

560 BC 560s BC 6th century BC

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Solon. Quoted in "Solon." Parallel Lives by Plutarch. c. 2nd century BC, ch. 3.

Current Citation

Solon. Quoted in "Solon." Greek Lives, written by Plutarch, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2009.

There is one thing alone
that stands the brunt of life throughout its course:
a quiet conscience.

Euripides

Hippolytus

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Topic

Conscience Inner peace

Speaker

Phaedra

Author

Euripides

Source

Hippolytus

Medium

Play

Genre

Greek tragedy Tragedy (play)

Language

Greek

Time

428 BC 420s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Euripides. Ἱππόλυτος [Hippolytus]. 428 BC, City Dionysia festival, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

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

But the bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding go out to meet it.

Pericles

Quoted in Funeral Oration, by Thucydides

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Topic

Bravery Courage Taking risks Going for it

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.

As to diseases make a habit of two things-to help, or at least, to do no harm.

Hippocrates

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Topic

Practicing medicine Sickness and illness

Author

Hippocrates

Source

Epidemics

Statement Type

Oath

Language

Greek

Time

370 BC 370s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Hippocrates. Epidemics I. c. 4th century BC, second constitution, pt. 11.

Current Citation

Hippocrates. "Epidemics I." Hippocratic Writings, translated by J. Chadwick and W. N. Mann, et al. Penguin Classics, 1984, second constitution, pt. 11.

War is father of all and king of all. Some he reveals as gods, other as men; some he makes slaves, other free.

Heraclitus

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Topic

War Fate

Author

Heraclitus

Medium

Presocratic fragment Fragment

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 0

Original Citation

Heraclitus. Fragments. 5th century BC, F23 - DK B53.

Current Citation

Heraclitus. "Heraclitus of Ephesus." The First Philosophers: The Presocratics and Sophists, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2009, F23 - DK B53.