Greek tragedy

Explore 28 quotes from the following genre: Greek tragedy

The greatest griefs are those we cause ourselves.

Sophocles

Oedipus Rex

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Speaker

Second Messenger

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.

How dreadful knowledge of the truth can be
When there's no help in truth!

Sophocles

Oedipus Rex

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Topic

Truth hurts Truth Ignorance is bliss

Speaker

Teiresias

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.

Reason is God's crowning gift to man.

Sophocles

Antigone

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Topic

Reason Gifts of God

Speaker

Haemon

Author

Sophocles

Source

Antigone

Medium

Play

Genre

Greek tragedy Tragedy (play)

Language

Greek

Time

442 BC 440s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Sophocles. Ἀντιγόνη [Antigone]. c. 441 BC, Festival of Dionysus, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

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

For he does not wish to appear the bravest, but to be the bravest.

Aeschylus

Seven Against Thebes

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Topic

Appearance vs. reality Character Virtue

Speaker

Scout

Author

Aeschylus

Source

Seven Against Thebes

Medium

Play

Genre

Greek tragedy Tragedy (play)

Language

Greek

Time

467 BC 460s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Aeschylus. Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ Θήβας [Seven Against Thebes]. c. 467 BC, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

Aeschylus. "Seven Against Thebes." The Persians and Other Plays, edited and translated by Alan H. Sommerstein. Penguin Classics, 2010.

For God hates utterly
The bray of bragging tongues.

Sophocles

Antigone

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Topic

Bragging and boasting

Speaker

Chorus

Author

Sophocles

Source

Antigone

Medium

Play

Genre

Greek tragedy Tragedy (play)

Language

Greek

Time

442 BC 440s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Sophocles. Ἀντιγόνη [Antigone]. c. 441 BC, Festival of Dionysus, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

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

Zeus, author of all, worker of all! For what is brought to pass for mortal men save by will of Zeus? What herein is not wrought of god?

Aeschylus

Agamemnon

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Topic

God as first cause God and man God

Speaker

Chorus

Author

Aeschylus

Source

Agamemnon

Medium

Play

Genre

Greek tragedy Tragedy (play)

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.

Our ship of state, which recent storms have threatened to destroy, has come safely to harbor at last.

Sophocles

Antigone

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Topic

Political upheaval

Speaker

Creon

Author

Sophocles

Source

Antigone

Medium

Play

Genre

Greek tragedy Tragedy (play)

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

Greek

Time

442 BC 440s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Sophocles. Ἀντιγόνη [Antigone]. c. 441 BC, Festival of Dionysus, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

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

Leave no stone unturned.

Euripides

Children of Hercules

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Topic

Taking care Thoroughness

Speaker

Eurystheus

Author

Euripides

Source

Children of Hercules

Medium

Play

Genre

Greek tragedy Tragedy (play)

Statement Type

Proverbs, aphorisms and adages

Language

Greek

Time

430 BC 430s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Euripides. Herakles' Children [Children of Heracles]. c. 430 BC, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

Euripides. "The Children of Hercules." Euripides I: Alcestis; Medea; The Children of Heracles; Hippolytus, edited and translated by Mark Griffith, Glenn W. Most, David Grene, and Richmond Lattimore. University of Chicago Press, 2013.

A woman's vows I write upon the wave.

Sophocles

Unknown drama

More information about this quote

Author

Sophocles

Source

Unknown drama

Medium

Play

Genre

Greek tragedy Tragedy (play)

Language

Greek

Time

400 BC 400s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Sophocles. Unnamed drama. 5th century BC, fragment 694.

For few there are among men in whom it is inborn to admire without envy a friend's good fortune.

Aeschylus

Agamemnon

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Topic

Envy of friends Envy Friends

Speaker

Agamemnon

Author

Aeschylus

Source

Agamemnon

Medium

Play

Genre

Greek tragedy Tragedy (play)

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.

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.

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.

Love, unconquerable,
Waster of rich men, keeper
Of warm lights and all-night vigil
In the soft face of a girl:
Sea-wanderer, forest-visitor!
Even the pure immortals cannot escape you,
And mortal man, in his one day's dusk,
Trembles before your glory.

Sophocles

Antigone

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Topic

Power of love Love

Speaker

Chorus

Author

Sophocles

Source

Antigone

Medium

Play

Genre

Greek tragedy Tragedy (play)

Language

Greek

Time

442 BC 440s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Sophocles. Ἀντιγόνη [Antigone]. c. 441 BC, Festival of Dionysus, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

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

Love distills desire upon the eyes,
love brings bewitching grace into the heart
of those he would destroy.
I pray that love may never come to me
with murderous intent,
in rhythms measureless and wild.
Not fire nor stars have stronger bolts
than those of Aphrodite sent
by the hand of Eros, Zeus' child.

Euripides

Hippolytus

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Topic

Power of love Love

Speaker

Chorus

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.

For where is goodwill greater than from guest to host?

Aeschylus

The Libation Bearers

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Topic

Hospitality Guests and visitors

Speaker

Orestes

Author

Aeschylus

Source

The Libation Bearers

Medium

Play

Genre

Greek tragedy Tragedy (play)

Language

Greek

Time

458 BC 450s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Aeschylus. The Libation Bearers. c. 458 BC, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

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

Grief teaches the steadiest minds to waver.

Sophocles

Antigone

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Topic

Effects of grief Grief

Speaker

Ismene

Author

Sophocles

Source

Antigone

Medium

Play

Genre

Greek tragedy Tragedy (play)

Language

Greek

Time

442 BC 440s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Sophocles. Ἀντιγόνη [Antigone]. c. 441 BC, Festival of Dionysus, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

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

No, death would be better, for that would be a milder lot than tyranny.

Aeschylus

Agamemnon

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Topic

Tyranny

Speaker

Chorus

Author

Aeschylus

Source

Agamemnon

Medium

Play

Genre

Greek tragedy Tragedy (play)

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.

But ever-ageing Time teaches all things.

Aeschylus

Prometheus Bound

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Topic

Time as teacher Time

Speaker

Prometheus

Author

Aeschylus

Source

Prometheus Bound

Medium

Play

Genre

Greek tragedy Tragedy (play)

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

Greek

Time

424 BC 420s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Aeschylus. The Libation Bearers. c. 458 BC, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

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

Wisdom outweighs any wealth.

Sophocles

Antigone

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Topic

Wisdom

Speaker

Teiresias

Author

Sophocles

Source

Antigone

Medium

Play

Genre

Greek tragedy Tragedy (play)

Language

Greek

Time

442 BC 440s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Sophocles. Ἀντιγόνη [Antigone]. c. 441 BC, Festival of Dionysus, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

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

Time eases all things.

Sophocles

Oedipus Rex

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Topic

Effects of time Time

Speaker

Creon

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.