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

οὐδεὶς γὰρ οὕτως οὔτε μάρτυς ἐστι φοβερὸς οὔτε κατήγορος δεινὸς ὡς ἡ σύνεσις ἡ κατοικοῦσ᾽ ἐν ταῖς ἑκάστων ψυχαῖς.

Polybius

More information about this quote

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

Occupation

Historian Writer

From

Greece Europe Ancient Greece

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.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Polybius about conscience: “There is no witness so dreadful, no accuser so terrible, as the conscience that…”
Download
A quote by Polybius about conscience: “There is no witness so dreadful, no accuser so terrible, as the conscience that…”
Download
A quote by Polybius about conscience: “There is no witness so dreadful, no accuser so terrible, as the conscience that…”
Download

Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote from Classical antiquity

As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more.

Psalm 103:15-16

Buy the Bible (NKJV) at Amazon Buy the Bible (NKJV) at Amazon
Read this verse at Bible Hub
More information about this quote
Topic
Ephemeral nature of life Shortness of life The human condition
Source
Psalms The Bible
Medium
Scripture
Genre
Religious literature
Statement Type
Metaphor, analogy and simile
Language
Hebrew
Time
450 BC 450s BC 5th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 3
Citation

The Holy Bible, New King James Version. Thomas Nelson, 1982. (Psalm 103:15-16).

Another quote originally in Greek

The mind is not a vessel that needs filling, but wood that needs igniting.

Plutarch

Moralia

More information about this quote
Topic
The mind Education Learning

Author

Plutarch
Source
Of Listening Moralia
Medium
Essay
Statement Type
Metaphor, analogy and simile
Language
Greek
Time
2nd century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Plutarch. "Περὶ τοῦ ἀκούειν [On Hearing]." Ἠθικά Ethika [Moralia]. c. 100 AD.

Current Citation

Plutarch. "On Listening." Essays. Penguin Classics, 1993.