Greek

Explore 668 quotes originally in Greek

If not becoming, don’t do it. If not true, don’t say it. Let these be your fixed principles.

Marcus Aurelius

Meditations

Buy Meditations at Amazon Buy Meditations at Amazon
Read Meditations at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

Topic

Lying Personal integrity Morality

Author

Marcus Aurelius

Source

Meditations

Medium

Personal journal

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Orders and commands

Language

Greek

Time

180 180s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 0

Original Citation

Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations. c. 180, bk. 12.

Current Citation

Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations, edited and translated by Martin Hammond. Penguin Classics, 2015, bk. 12.

Don't let the bastards grind you down.

Margaret Atwood

The Handmaid's Tale

Buy The Handmaid's Tale at Amazon Buy The Handmaid's Tale at Amazon

More information about this quote

Topic

Inner strength Resilience

Author

Margaret Atwood

Source

The Handmaid's Tale

Medium

Novel

Genre

Dystopian fiction

Language

Greek

Time

1985 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid's Tale. McClelland and Stewart/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1985, ch. 29.

Time crumbles things; everything grows old under the power of time and is forgotten through the lapse of time.

Aristotle

Physics

Buy Physics at Amazon Buy Physics at Amazon

More information about this quote

Topic

Ravages of time Effects of time Time

Author

Aristotle

Source

Physics

Genre

Scientific literature

Language

Greek

Time

350 BC 350s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Aristotle. Φυσικὴ ἀκρόασις Phusike akroasis [Physics]. 4th century BC.

Current Citation

Aristotle. Physics, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2008.

Who has knowledge of what is to be dreaded and what is not—the man whom I call courageous?

Nicias

Quoted in Laches, by Plato

More information about this quote

Topic

Courage vs. fear Courage

Speaker

Nicias

Author

Plato

Source

Laches

Medium

Philosophical dialogue Dialogue

Statement Type

Definition

Language

Greek

Time

380 BC 380s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Nicias. Quoted in Λάχης [Laches], written by Plato. c. 348 BC, sect. 195d.

Current Citation

Nicias. Quoted in "Laches." Plato: Complete Works, edited by John M. Cooper and D. S. Hutchinson. Hackett Publishing, 1997, sect. 195d.

Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more.

Jesus

John 8:11

Buy the Bible (KJV) at Amazon Buy the Bible (KJV) at Amazon
Read this verse at Bible Hub

More information about this quote

Topic

Forgiveness Sin

Speaker

Jesus

Source

Gospel of John The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Statement Type

Orders and commands

Language

Greek

Time

90 90s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (John 8:11).

It is perfectly certain that the soul is immortal and imperishable, and our souls will actually exist in another world.

Socrates

Quoted in Phaedo, by Plato

Buy Phaedo at Amazon Buy Phaedo at Amazon
Read Phaedo at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

Topic

The soul The afterlife

Speaker

Socrates

Author

Plato

Source

Phaedo

Medium

Philosophical dialogue Dialogue

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

347 BC 340s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Socrates. Quoted in Φαίδων [Phaedo], written by Plato. c. 360 BC.

Current Citation

Socrates. Quoted in "Phaedo." Plato: Five Dialogues: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo, written by Plato, translated by G. M. A. Grube and John M. Cooper. Hackett Publishing, 2002.

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Jesus

Matthew 5:14

Buy the Bible (NKJV) at Amazon Buy the Bible (NKJV) at Amazon
Read this verse at Bible Hub

More information about this quote

Topic

City on a hill Beacon Sermon on the Mount

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, New King James Version. Thomas Nelson, 1982. (Matthew 5:14).

We secure our friends not by accepting favors, but by doing them.

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

Allies

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.

It is the nature of desire not to be satisfied, and most men live only for the gratification of it. The beginning of reform is not so much to equalize property as to train the noble sort of natures not to desire more, and to prevent the lower from getting more.

Aristotle

Politics

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

More information about this quote

Topic

Acquisitiveness Desire Materialism Attachment (Buddhism) Redistribution of resources

Author

Aristotle

Source

Politics

Genre

Political literature Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

350 BC 350s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Aristotle. Politics. 4th century BC, bk. 2.

Current Citation

Aristotle. Politics, translated by R. F. Stalley and Sir Ernest Barker. Oxford University Press, 2009, bk. 2.

Let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay.

James 5:12

Buy the Bible (KJV) at Amazon Buy the Bible (KJV) at Amazon
Read this verse at Bible Hub

More information about this quote

Topic

Personal integrity

Source

James The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Statement Type

Advice

Language

Greek

Time

49 40s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (James 5:12).

Who told them
that they were dead.

Aeschylus

The Suppliant Maidens

Buy The Suppliant Maidens at Amazon Buy The Suppliant Maidens at Amazon
Read The Suppliant Maidens at MIT's classics department website

More information about this quote

Topic

Foreigners Xenophobia Immigration

Speaker

Chorus (Greek drama)

Author

Aeschylus

Source

The Suppliant Maidens

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragic play Greek theater

Language

Greek

Time

5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Aeschylus. Ἱκέτιδες, Hiketides [The Suppliants]. c. 455 BC.

The very best thing for a person is health,
Second good looks and third honest wealth,
the fourth is to be in the prime of your life
With people around you who cause you no strife.

Socrates

Quoted in Gorgias, by Plato

An ancient Greek drinking song.

Buy Gorgias at Amazon Buy Gorgias at Amazon

More information about this quote

Topic

The good life

Speaker

Socrates

Author

Plato

Source

Gorgias

Medium

Philosophical dialogue

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Proverbs, aphorisms and adages

Language

Greek

Time

4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Anonymous. Quoted in Gorgias, written by Plato. Oxford University Press, 2008. Originally a drinking song by an anonymous source.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

Jesus

Matthew 5:6

Buy the Bible (NKJV) at Amazon Buy the Bible (NKJV) at Amazon
Read this verse at Bible Hub

More information about this quote

Topic

Righteousness Beatitudes Sermon on the Mount

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, New King James Version. Thomas Nelson, 1982. (Matthew 5:6).

Grief teaches the steadiest minds to waver.

Sophocles

Antigone

Buy Antigone at Amazon Buy Antigone at Amazon
Read Antigone at the website of the MIT classics department.

More information about this quote

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.

God became man so that man might become God.

Athanasius

On the Incarnation

Buy On the Incarnation at Amazon Buy On the Incarnation at Amazon
Read On the Incarnation at newadvent.org

More information about this quote

Topic

God and man

Author

Athanasius

Source

On the Incarnation

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Greek

Time

318 310s 4th century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 0

Original Citation

Athanasius of Alexandria. De Incarnatione [On the Incarnation]. c. 318.

Current Citation

Athanasius. On the Incarnation: Saint Athanasius. St. Vladimir's Serminary Press, 2012.

Great successes are not won save by great risks.

Herodotus

Histories

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

More information about this quote

Topic

No risk it no biscuit Taking risks

Speaker

Xerxes

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, ch. 50.

Current Citation

Herodotus. The Histories, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2008, bk. 7, ch. 50.

This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.

God

Matthew 3:17

Buy the Bible (KJV) at Amazon Buy the Bible (KJV) at Amazon
Read this verse at Bible Hub

More information about this quote

Topic

Jesus

Speaker

God

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 3:17).

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

Aeschylus

Agamemnon

Buy Agamemnon at Amazon Buy Agamemnon at Amazon
Read Agamemnon at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

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.

The stars about the lovely moon hide their shining forms when it lights up the earth at its fullest.

Sappho

More information about this quote

Topic

Moonlight The moon

Author

Sappho

Language

Greek

Time

570 BC 570s BC 6th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Sappho. Sappho to the Moon. c. 570 BCE.

Current Citation

Sappho. Quoted in The Greek Anthology and Other Ancient Greek Epigrams, edited by Peter Jay. Oxford University Press, 1973.

I am not of this world.

Jesus

John 8:23

Buy the Bible (KJV) at Amazon Buy the Bible (KJV) at Amazon
Read this verse at Bible Hub

More information about this quote

Topic

Nature of Jesus Jesus

Speaker

Jesus

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 8:23).