If a man insisted always on being serious, and never allowed himself a bit of fun and relaxation, he would go mad or become unstable without knowing it.

εἰ ἐθέλοι κατεσπουδάσθαι αἰεὶ μηδὲ ἐς παιγνίην τὸ μέρος ἑωυτὸν ἀνιέναι, λάθοι ἂν ἤτοι μανεὶς ἢ ὅ γε ἀπόπληκτος γενόμενος: τὰ ἐγὼ ἐπιστάμενος μέρος ἑκατέρῳ νέμω.’ ταῦτα μὲν τοὺς φίλους ἀμείψατο.

Herodotus

Histories

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More information about this quote

Topic

Taking it easy Having fun Being uptight

Speaker

Amasis

Author

Herodotus

Source

Histories

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

430 BC 430s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Occupation

Historian Writer

From

Turkey Europe Ancient Greece

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Herodotus. Ἱστορίαι [Histories]. c. 430 BC, bk. 2, ch. 173.

Current Citation

Herodotus. The Histories, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2008, bk. 2, ch. 173.

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A quote by Herodotus about taking it easy: “If a man insisted always on being serious, and never allowed himself a bit…”
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A quote by Herodotus about taking it easy: “If a man insisted always on being serious, and never allowed himself a bit…”
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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 the 5th century BC

Man is the measure of all things.

Protagoras

Quoted in Theaetetus, by Plato

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More information about this quote
Topic
Nature of man
Speaker
Protagoras

Author

Plato
Source
Theaetetus
Medium
Philosophical dialogue
Genre
Philosophical literature
Language
Greek
Time
420 BC 420s BC 5th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Plato. Θεαίτητος [Theatetus]. c. 400 BC.

Current Citation

Plato. Theatetus, translated by John McDowell. Oxford University Press, 2014.

Another quote from Classical antiquity

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Jesus

Matthew 7:7

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More information about this quote
Topic
Prayer Seeking God Seeking Sermon on the Mount
Speaker
Jesus
Source
Gospel of Matthew The Bible
Medium
Scripture
Genre
Religious literature
Statement Type
Advice
Language
Greek
Time
60 60s 1st century
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 3
Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Matthew 7:7).

Another quote originally in Greek

Make war that we may live in peace.

Aristotle

The Nicomachean Ethics

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More information about this quote
Topic
War and peace War Peace

Author

Aristotle
Source
The Nicomachean Ethics
Genre
Philosophical literature
Statement Type
Paradox
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.