Greek

Explore 668 quotes originally in Greek

For what should a man live, if not for the pleasures of discourse?

Plato

Phaedrus

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Topic

Good conversation Purpose of life

Speaker

Phaedrus

Author

Plato

Source

Phaedrus

Medium

Philosophical dialogue Dialogue

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Question

Language

Greek

Time

370 BC 370s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Socrates. Quoted in Φαῖδρος [Phaedrus], written by Plato. c. 370 BC, section 258e.

Current Citation

Socrates. Quoted in "Phaedrus." Plato: Lysis; Symposium; Phaedrus, written by Plato, translated by Christopher Emlyn-Jones and William Preddy. Harvard University Press, 2022, sect. 258e.

The basis of a democratic state is liberty.

Aristotle

Politics

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Topic

Freedom and democracy Democratic legitimacy Democracy Freedom

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. 6.

Current Citation

Aristotle. Politics, translated by R. F. Stalley and Sir Ernest Barker. Oxford University Press, 2009, bk. 6.

I know that I do not know.

Socrates

Quoted in Apology, by Plato

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Topic

Intellectual humility Certainty Ignorance

Speaker

Socrates

Author

Plato

Source

Apology

Medium

Courtroom speech Speech

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

399 BC 390s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Plato. Ἀπολογία Σωκράτους [Apology of Socrates]. Speech of legal self-defence which Socrates spoke at his trial for impiety and corruption. 399 BC, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

Plato. "Apology." Plato: Euthyphro; Apology; Crito; Phaedo, translated by Christopher Emlyn-Jones and William Preddy. Harvard University Press, 2017.

Of all the creatures that breathe and move across the earth, there is nothing feebler than man.

Homer

The Odyssey

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Topic

Human frailty Nature of man

Author

Homer

Source

The Odyssey

Medium

Poem

Genre

Epic poem

Language

Greek

Time

700 BC 700s BC 8th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Homer. Ὀδύσσεια [Odyssey]. c. 710 BC, bk. 18, l. 130.

Current Citation

Homer. The Odyssey, edited by Bernard Knox, translated by Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics, 2006, bk. 18, l. 130.

Among all men on Earth, bards have a share of honor and reverence, because the Muse has taught them songs, and loves the race of bards.

Homer

The Odyssey

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Topic

Poets Poetry Stories

Speaker

Odysseus

Author

Homer

Source

The Odyssey

Medium

Poem

Genre

Epic poem

Language

Greek

Time

700 BC 700s BC 9th century BC

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Homer. Ὀδύσσεια [Odyssey]. c. 710 BC, bk. 8, l. 479-481

Current Citation

Homer. The Odyssey, edited by Bernard Knox, translated by Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics, 2006, bk. 8, l. 479-481.

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

Aristotle

Politics

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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.

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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.

Every instant of time is a pinprick of eternity.

Marcus Aurelius

Meditations

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Topic

Eternity Time

Author

Marcus Aurelius

Source

Meditations

Medium

Personal journal

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Paradox

Language

Greek

Time

180 180s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations. c. 180, bk. 6.

Current Citation

Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations, edited and translated by Martin Hammond. Penguin Classics, 2015, bk. 6.

Use a little wine for thy stomach's sake.

1st Timothy 5:23

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Topic

Wine Alchol

Source

1st Timothy The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Statement Type

Advice

Language

Greek

Time

64 60s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (1st Timothy 5:23).

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

Aristotle

The Nicomachean Ethics

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Apostle Paul

Romans 10:13

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Topic

Seeking God Salvation

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 10:13).

Eureka!

Archimedes

Quoted in De Architectura, by Vitruvius

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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.