As mortals we should behave as mortals.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Alcestis

Man is the measure of all things.

—  Protagoras, 487-412 BC, Ancient Greek sophist

Man is the dream of a shadow.

—  Pindar, 522-438 BC, Ancient Greek lyric poet

There are many evils and there is no worse evil than man.

—  Sophocles, 496-406 BC, Ancient tragic poet ‐ Antigone

Man: one who thinks of what he sees.

—  Plato, 427-347 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

It is not possible to know medicine without knowing what a human is.

—  Hippocrates, 460-370 BC, Ancient Greek physician, the “Father of Medicine”

What a wonderful being is the man if he is a man.

—  Menander, 4th cent. BC, Ancient Greek dramatist (New Comedy)

Man is naturally deceitful ever, in every way!

—  Aristophanes, 445-386 BC, Ancient Greek comic playwright ‐ Birds

We became men once and one cannot become twice.

—  Epicurus, 341-270 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Man is a microcosm.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Most people are bad.

—  Bias of Priene, 625-540 BC, one of the 7 sages of Ancient Greece

World is decay, life is perception.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

(quoted by Marcus Aurelius in “Τα εις εαυτόν”)

One word brings another.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Trojan Women

The world is wonderful, because it is a creation of God.

—  Thales of Miletus, 643-548 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

This world, which is the same for all, has not been made by any god or man, but it always has been, is, and will be an ever-living fire.

—  Heraclitus, 544-484 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

When asked if the shape of the world is a sphere, Socrates replied: “I didn’t bend so much.”

—  Socrates, 469-399 BC, Ancient Geek Philosopher

Place is the greatest thing, as it contains all things.

—  Thales of Miletus, 643-548 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

There are countless worlds both born and perishable.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance.

—  Socrates, 469-399 BC, Ancient Geek Philosopher

Nothing bad is without something good.

—  Ancient Greek phrase

There are many evils and there is no worse evil than man.

—  Sophocles, 496-406 BC, Ancient tragic poet ‐ Antigone

There cannot be good without evil, but in their mixture things may turn out well.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Aeolus

Good and evil are the same thing.

—  Heraclitus, 544-484 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Pleasure, a most mighty lure to evil.

—  Plato, 427-347 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

The evil decision is most evil for him who takes it.

—  Hesiod, 7th cent. BC, Ancient Greek poet ‐ Works and Days -266

The good can never mix with the evil.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Ion

The just man is most free from disturbance, while the unjust is full of the utmost disturbance.

—  Epicurus, 341-270 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Like in a statue, all parts of a life must be beautiful.

—  Socrates, 469-399 BC, Ancient Geek Philosopher

Life without enquiry is not worth living for a man.

—  Socrates, 469-399 BC, Ancient Geek Philosopher

We live, not as we wish to, but as we can.

—  Menander, 4th cent. BC, Ancient Greek dramatist (New Comedy)

Life is short and Art long; the opportunity fleeting, experience deceitful, and judgment difficult.

—  Hippocrates, 460-370 BC, Ancient Greek physician, the “Father of Medicine”

(the first phrase in the “Aphorisms”)

Life is short.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Bacchae

How sweet is life when fortune is not envious.

—  Menander, 4th cent. BC, Ancient Greek dramatist (New Comedy)

Nobody lives the life he chooses to live.

—  Menander, 4th cent. BC, Ancient Greek dramatist (New Comedy)

The measure of life is its beauty not its length.

—  Plutarch, 47-120 AD, Ancient Greek historian

The art of life is more like the wrestler's art than the dancer's, in respect of this, that it should stand ready and firm to meet onsets which are sudden and unexpected.

—  Marcus Aurelius, 121-180 AD, Roman Emperor ‐ Meditations VII, 61

The human life is governed by nature and laws.

—  Aristotle, 384-322 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

He whom the gods love dies young.

—  Menander, 4th cent. BC, Ancient Greek dramatist (New Comedy)

Death is the healer of incurable diseases.

—  Aeschylus, 525-456 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian

Death is a debt which every one of us must pay.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Alcestis

Better to die once and for all than to suffer pain for all my life.

—  Aeschylus, 525-456 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Prometheus Bound

Death is nothing to us. Because something which is decomposed has no senses while something without senses is nothing to us.

—  Epicurus, 341-270 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

I think death is nothing more than the separation of two things from one another: soul and body.

—  Plato, 427-347 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Fools long for life because they fear death.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Do not speak evil of the dead.

—  Chilon of Sparta, 6th cent. BC, one of the 7 sages of Ancient Greece

Death, therefore, the most awful of evils, is nothing to us, seeing that, when we are, death is not come, and when death is come, we are not.

—  Epicurus, 341-270 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Only in death there is no remedy.

—  Menander, 4th cent. BC, Ancient Greek dramatist (New Comedy)

Surely to die with glory is a blessing for the mortals.

—  Aeschylus, 525-456 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Agamemnon

In the good days remember also death.

—  Aesop, 620-560 BC, Ancient Greek fabulist

Corpses are more useless than dung.

—  Heraclitus, 544-484 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

In death all men are earth and shadow. Naught come to naught.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Meleager

When life is so burdensome, death has become a sought after refuge.

—  Herodotus, 480-420 BC, Ancient Greek historian, the “ father of History”

Death is no different at all from life.

—  Thales of Miletus, 643-548 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Better a bad life than a good death.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Iphigeneia at Aulis

The base among mankind in order to avoid effort fall in love with death.

—  Agathon, 450-400 BC, Ancient Greek tragic poet

The road to Hades is easy; you go there with your eyes closed.

—  Bion of Borysthenes, c. 325-255 BC, Ancient Greek Cynic philosopher

The souls in the underworld smell.

—  Heraclitus, 544-484 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

For wealth is useless to the dead.

—  Aeschylus, 525-456 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Persians

He was easy here, will be easy there.

—  Aristophanes, 445-386 BC, Ancient Greek comic playwright ‐ Frogs

(about the deceased Sophocles)

What dies does not fall out of the world.

—  Marcus Aurelius, 121-180 AD, Roman Emperor

Life we know but as we don’t have experience of the death, everybody is afraid to leave the light of this sun.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Phoenix

Religion and laws, if they are exercised well, are beneficial; if exercised badly, they do not benefit at all.

—  Solon, 630-560 BC, Ancient Greek lawmaker & philosopher

God is never, in no way unjust.

—  Plato, 427-347 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

God needs nothing.

—  Ancient Greek proverb

According to law, there are many gods; according to nature, only one.

—  Antisthenes, 445-360 BC, Ancient Greek Cynic philosopher

God is the most ancient of all things, for he had no birth.

—  Thales of Miletus, 643-548 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

If gods do evil, they are not gods.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Iphigeneia in Tauris

God always geometrizes.

—  Plato, 427-347 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

It is not possible to deceive or ignore the will of Zeus.

—  Hesiod, 7th cent. BC, Ancient Greek poet ‐ Theogony -613

It’s a shame to the gods that bad men prosper.

—  Menander, 4th cent. BC, Ancient Greek dramatist (New Comedy)

Gods know all things.

—  Homer, c. 800-750 BC, Ancient Greek Poet ‐ Odyssey IV

What’s divine? That which has neither beginning nor end.

—  Thales of Miletus, 643-548 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

A god, if he truly is a god, stands in need of nothing.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Heracles

The eye of Zeus seeing all and understanding all.

—  Hesiod, 7th cent. BC, Ancient Greek poet ‐ Works and Days -267

The gods are envious and mess things.

—  Solon, 630-560 BC, Ancient Greek lawmaker & philosopher

For the gods exist, since the knowledge about them is obvious.

—  Epicurus, 341-270 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

All things are full of gods.

—  Thales of Miletus, 643-548 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

What is god or what is not god or what is in between who among searching mortals can assert?

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Helen

Nothing is clear to men about the gods.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Heracles

Zeus whoever he may ever be.

—  Aeschylus, 525-456 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Agamemnon

These things surely lie on the knees of the gods.

—  Homer, c. 800-750 BC, Ancient Greek Poet ‐ Odyssey I

All men need the gods.

—  Homer, c. 800-750 BC, Ancient Greek Poet ‐ Odyssey III

Leave everything to the will of the gods.

—  Archilochus, 725-650 BC, Ancient Greek lyric poet

If it’s not right, don’t do it; if it’s not true, don’t say it.

—  Marcus Aurelius, 121-180 AD, Roman Emperor

Refrain from evil not out of fear, but because it is right.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

The “right” is nothing more than what benefits the powerful.

—  Plato, 427-347 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

A wrongdoer is often a man who has left something undone, not always one who has done something.

—  Marcus Aurelius, 121-180 AD, Roman Emperor ‐ Meditations IX, 5

One who thinks right is better than myriads who think wrong.

—  Plato, 427-347 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

It is futile to pray to the gods for that which one has the power to obtain by himself.

—  Epicurus, 341-270 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

It is the mark of a divine mind to be always contemplating something noble.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Look within. Within is the fountain of the good, and it will ever bubble up, if you wilt ever dig.

—  Marcus Aurelius, 121-180 AD, Roman Emperor ‐ Meditations VII, 59

If gods are with us, we shall miss nothing.

—  Xenophon, 430-355 BC, Ancient Greek soldier & historian

What Zeus? Do not trifle. There is no Zeus.

—  Aristophanes, 445-386 BC, Ancient Greek comic playwright ‐ Clouds

We know nothing for sure. Because the truth is hidden in the deep.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Plato is my friend but the truth is my best friend.

—  Antiphanes, 405-335 BC, Ancient comic poet

The words of the truth are simple.

—  Aeschylus, 525-456 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Award of the Arms

I seek the truth, by which no one ever was truly harmed.

—  Marcus Aurelius, 121-180 AD, Roman Emperor ‐ Meditations VI, 21

Hiding the truth is like burying gold.

—  Pythagoras, 580-490 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Everything flows, nothing stands still.

—  Heraclitus, 544-484 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Pleasures are transient, honors are immortal.

—  Periander of Corinth, 668-584 BC, tyrant of Corinth

The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.

—  Marcus Aurelius, 121-180 AD, Roman Emperor ‐ Meditations IV, 3

Learn to bear bravely the changes of fortune.

—  Periander of Corinth, 668-584 BC, tyrant of Corinth

Always keep in mind that things change.

—  Menander, 4th cent. BC, Ancient Greek dramatist (New Comedy)

No mortal can be fortunate until his end.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Iphigeneia at Aulis

Do not act as if you are going to live ten thousand years. The inevitable hangs over you. As long as you live, while it is in your power, be good.

—  Marcus Aurelius, 121-180 AD, Roman Emperor ‐ Meditations IV, 16

Sometimes the day is a step mother, sometimes a mother.

—  Hesiod, 7th cent. BC, Ancient Greek poet ‐ Works and Days -825

Knowing that human happiness never remains long in the same place.

—  Herodotus, 480-420 BC, Ancient Greek historian, the “ father of History”

And you, old man, we are told you prospered once.

—  Homer, c. 800-750 BC, Ancient Greek Poet ‐ Iliad XXIV

(Achilles to Priam)

Short-lived are both the praiser and the praised, and rememberer and the remembered.

—  Marcus Aurelius, 121-180 AD, Roman Emperor ‐ Meditations VIII, 21

The great happiness is not lasting among mortals.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Orestes

God likes to bring low all things of surpassing greatness.

—  Herodotus, 480-420 BC, Ancient Greek historian, the “ father of History”

The now is a sort of a middle thing.

—  Aristotle, 384-322 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Arrange your life according to present conditions.

—  Ancient Greek phrase

Know the right time.

—  Pittacus of Mytilene, 650-570 BC, one of the 7 sages of Ancient Greece

How big is the little thing that was given at the right time.

—  Menander, 4th cent. BC, Ancient Greek dramatist (New Comedy)

Untimely pleasures produce aversion.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Observe due measure, for right timing is in all things the most important factor.

—  Hesiod, 7th cent. BC, Ancient Greek poet ‐ Works and Days -694

Wrong timing is very dangerous.

—  Plutarch, 47-120 AD, Ancient Greek historian

Respond on time.

—  Periander of Corinth, 668-584 BC, tyrant of Corinth

There is a right time for all things.

—  Theognis of Megara, 6th cent. BC, Ancient Greek poet

Life is short and Art long; the opportunity fleeting, experience deceitful, and judgment difficult.

—  Hippocrates, 460-370 BC, Ancient Greek physician, the “Father of Medicine”

(the first phrase in the “Aphorisms”)

Don’t trust time.

—  Periander of Corinth, 668-584 BC, tyrant of Corinth

Time is the healer of all inevitable ills.

—  Menander, 4th cent. BC, Ancient Greek dramatist (New Comedy)

Time will explain it all. He is a talker, and needs no questioning before he speaks.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Aeolus

Time is that wherein there is opportunity, and opportunity is that wherein there is no great time

—  Hippocrates, 460-370 BC, Ancient Greek physician, the “Father of Medicine”

Time is the wisest of all things that are; for it brings everything to light.

—  Thales of Miletus, 643-548 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Time leads truth toward the light.

—  Menander, 4th cent. BC, Ancient Greek dramatist (New Comedy)

Time sees and hears all things, and discloses all.

—  Sophocles, 496-406 BC, Ancient tragic poet

Time is a child playing checkers; the kingdom belongs to a child.

—  Heraclitus, 544-484 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Time as he grows old teaches all things.

—  Aeschylus, 525-456 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Prometheus Bound

Use time sparingly.

—  Chilon of Sparta, 6th cent. BC, one of the 7 sages of Ancient Greece

They say that time is by nature wise.

—  Agathon, 450-400 BC, Ancient Greek tragic poet

Time is the ancestor of everything.

—  Pindar, 522-438 BC, Ancient Greek lyric poet

Times purifies all things that age with time.

—  Aeschylus, 525-456 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Eumenides

The measure of life is its beauty not its length.

—  Plutarch, 47-120 AD, Ancient Greek historian

Since life is short, don’t make it long with bad deeds.

—  Thales of Miletus, 643-548 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

A long life creates myriads of troubles.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Oenomaus

The life of the happy is short, and long is the life of the unhappy.

—  Apollonius of Tyana, 1st cent. AD, Ancient Greek Neopythagorean philosopher

Waste no fresh tears over old griefs.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian

(Alexandros)

Sweet is the memory of the sorrows past.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Andromeda

Of this alone, even god is deprived, the power of making things that are past never to have been.

—  Agathon, 450-400 BC, Ancient Greek tragic poet

A huge tree can tower from a tiny seed.

—  Aeschylus, 525-456 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Libation bearers

This you must always bear in mind, what is the nature of the whole.

—  Marcus Aurelius, 121-180 AD, Roman Emperor ‐ Meditations ΙΙ, 9

We all come from earth and water.

—  Xenophanes, 570-480 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

The day will come…

—  Homer, c. 800-750 BC, Ancient Greek Poet ‐ Iliad IV

The future is hidden from all men and great events hang on small chances.

—  Demosthenes, 384-322 BC, Ancient Athenian & statesman orator

Keep sight of the future.

—  Periander of Corinth, 668-584 BC, tyrant of Corinth

We should be patient in the present situation and have courage for the future.

—  Isokrates, 436-338 BC, Ancient Greek rhetorician

Your future will be good, if you arrange well the present.

—  Isokrates, 436-338 BC, Ancient Greek rhetorician

If you want to live a life without stress, consider whatever is going to happen in the future as if it has already happened

—  Epictetus, 50-120 AD, Ancient Greek Stoic philosopher

The old age of the eagle is the youth of the skylark.

—  Ancient Greek phrase

Actions of the young, decisions of the middle-aged, wishes of the old.

—  Hesiod, 7th cent. BC, Ancient Greek poet

The good things in youth are strength and beauty, whilst good sense is the flower of old age.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Neither being far short of thirty years nor much above; this is the right time for marriage.

—  Hesiod, 7th cent. BC, Ancient Greek poet ‐ Works and Days -695

The actions of the young and the decisions of the older worth more.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Melanippe

The power of the body gets old, but the strength of the soul remains young.

—  Xenophon, 430-355 BC, Ancient Greek soldier & historian

The old man has been young, whilst it is unknown if the young man will reach old age.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Respect old age, for it does not come alone.

—  Menander, 4th cent. BC, Ancient Greek dramatist (New Comedy)

As I grow older, I constantly learn more.

—  Solon, 630-560 BC, Ancient Greek lawmaker & philosopher

Old age and poverty, two wounds hard to heal.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

It’s bitter for a young woman an old husband.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Phoenix

Old age is a harbor for bad things.

—  Bias of Priene, 625-540 BC, one of the 7 sages of Ancient Greece

Old men are children twice.

—  Aristophanes, 445-386 BC, Ancient Greek comic playwright ‐ Clouds

You shouldn’t make fun of the old age that we all hope to reach.

—  Bion of Borysthenes, c. 325-255 BC, Ancient Greek Cynic philosopher

Do not reject divination.

—  Chilon of Sparta, 6th cent. BC, one of the 7 sages of Ancient Greece

Constant procrastination leaves the actions undone.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Do not put your work off till tomorrow and the day after.

—  Hesiod, 7th cent. BC, Ancient Greek poet ‐ Works and Days -410

Don’t rush when attending friends’ dinners, but hasten to their misfortunes.

—  Chilon of Sparta, 6th cent. BC, one of the 7 sages of Ancient Greece

The favorable conditions will not wait for our sluggishness and haughtiness .

—  Demosthenes, 384-322 BC, Ancient Athenian & statesman orator

The fight does not wait for those who delay.

—  Aeschylus, 525-456 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Glaucus of Pontus

Nature does not make leaps.

—  Aristotle, 384-322 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Haste in every business brings failures.

—  Herodotus, 480-420 BC, Ancient Greek historian, the “ father of History”

Hurry slowly.

—  Pythagoras, 580-490 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Mind is the swiftest of things, for it runs through everything.

—  Thales of Miletus, 643-548 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

His foot is slow but quick his mind.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Ion

Count no man happy until the end is known.

—  Solon, 630-560 BC, Ancient Greek lawmaker & philosopher

(to Croesus, king of Lydia)

No mortal can be fortunate until his end.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Iphigeneia at Aulis

Everything comes from earth and everything ends in earth.

—  Xenophanes, 570-480 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Everything in the past is judged by the outcome of the last event.

—  Demosthenes, 384-322 BC, Ancient Athenian & statesman orator

I talk to you about garlics and you respond about onions.

—  Ancient Greek phrase

—  Αρχαία παροιμιακή φράση

Better be a late learner than an ignorant.

—  Socrates, 469-399 BC, Ancient Geek Philosopher

(explaining why he was learning to play a musical instrument just before his execution)

The most necessary lesson is to unlearn all the wrong things.

—  Antisthenes, 445-360 BC, Ancient Greek Cynic philosopher

We are indebted to our parents for living, but to our teachers for living well.

—  Alexander the Great, 356-323 BC, King of Macedon

For the foolish, not reason but misfortune is the teacher.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

As I grow older, I constantly learn more.

—  Solon, 630-560 BC, Ancient Greek lawmaker & philosopher

More men become good through practice than by nature.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Learning by suffering.

—  Aeschylus, 525-456 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Agamemnon

Practice is everything.

—  Periander of Corinth, 668-584 BC, tyrant of Corinth

Three things support the perfection of a man: character, learning and practice.

—  Plato, 427-347 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

The root of education is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.

—  Isokrates, 436-338 BC, Ancient Greek rhetorician

Homer has educated Greece.

—  Plato, 427-347 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Marry a virgin, so that you can teach her the right manners.

—  Hesiod, 7th cent. BC, Ancient Greek poet ‐ Works and Days -699

Traveling is the best education.

—  Ancient Greek proverb

If you are fond of learning, you will soon be full of learning.

—  Isokrates, 436-338 BC, Ancient Greek rhetorician

Education is an ornament for the fortunate and a refuge for the unfortunate.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Education needs these three: natural endowment, study, practice.

—  Aristotle, 384-322 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

To think, to see, to understand, to show the arse, to trick, to suspect the worst, to question everything.

—  Aristophanes, 445-386 BC, Ancient Greek comic playwright ‐ Frogs

(what Euripides taught to Athenians, according to Aristophanes)

If you do not hit the clay, you cannot make tile.

—  Archytas, 428-347 BC, Ancient philosopher & statesman

For those who prosper education is an ornament, for the unfortunate is a refuge.

—  Isokrates, 436-338 BC, Ancient Greek rhetorician

Bion said that education is a sacred asylum.

—  Bion of Borysthenes, c. 325-255 BC, Ancient Greek Cynic philosopher

The foundation of every state is the upbringing of young people.

—  Pythagoras, 580-490 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

...of Sleep and Death, who are twin brothers.

—  Homer, c. 800-750 BC, Ancient Greek Poet ‐ Iliad XVI

O dearest charm of sleep, ally against sickness.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Orestes

Sleep, universal king of gods and men.

—  Homer, c. 800-750 BC, Ancient Greek Poet ‐ Iliad XIV

Daytime sleep indicates a distressed body or a troubled mind or laziness or lack of education.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Both sleep and sleeplessness, when immoderate, are bad.

—  Hippocrates, 460-370 BC, Ancient Greek physician, the “Father of Medicine”

The beginning of everything is atoms and void, and everything else is perception.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Things do not look the same when viewed from far or near.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Ion

Slight not what's near through aiming at what's far.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Rhesus

He who is close to Zeus is close to thunder.

—  Aesop, 620-560 BC, Ancient Greek fabulist

Bronze is the mirror of the form; wine, of the heart.

—  Aeschylus, 525-456 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian

The road up and the road down is the same.

—  Heraclitus, 544-484 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Don't walk on avenues.

—  Pythagoras, 580-490 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

For the wise is easy to go anywhere. Because the whole world is home for a good soul.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Many cities of men he saw and learned their minds.

—  Homer, c. 800-750 BC, Ancient Greek Poet ‐ Odyssey I

Traveling is the best education.

—  Ancient Greek proverb

The beds are filled with tears longing for the men.

—  Aeschylus, 525-456 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Persians

The things of those who are absent naturally go to those who are present, and the things of the careless go to the diligent and brave.

—  Demosthenes, 384-322 BC, Ancient Athenian & statesman orator

A woman should be good for everything at home, but, out of the door, good for nothing.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Meleager

The beginning is half of everything.

—  Plato, 427-347 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

In the beginning there was chaos.

—  Hesiod, 7th cent. BC, Ancient Greek poet ‐ Theogony -116

A huge tree can tower from a tiny seed.

—  Aeschylus, 525-456 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Libation bearers

A bad beginning makes a bad ending.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Aeolus

Those with a well-ordered character will have a well-ordered life too.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Order is generally believed to save [in battle], while disorder has destroyed many.

—  Xenophon, 430-355 BC, Ancient Greek soldier & historian

The best defense is not to be like your enemy.

—  Marcus Aurelius, 121-180 AD, Roman Emperor ‐ Meditations VI, 6

Each man delights in the work that suits him best.

—  Homer, c. 800-750 BC, Ancient Greek Poet ‐ Odyssey XIV

Goodness and truth are the same for all men. But what is pleasant is different from man to man.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

As the men’s nature differ, so do their ways.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Iphigeneia at Aulis

As ever, god brings like and like together!

—  Homer, c. 800-750 BC, Ancient Greek Poet ‐ Odyssey XVII

God is never, in no way unjust.

—  Plato, 427-347 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

He who commits an act of injustice is in worse condition than he who suffers it.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Wickedness and injustice are intentional.

—  Aristotle, 384-322 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

It is good to prevent the man who does wrong. But if you cannot, do not join in wrongdoing.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

We must no longer believe in the gods if injustice prevails over justice.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Electra

For great wrongdoing there are great punishments from the gods.

—  Herodotus, 480-420 BC, Ancient Greek historian, the “ father of History”

There cannot be good without evil, but in their mixture things may turn out well.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Aeolus

Slaves and master could never be friends.

—  Plato, 427-347 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

The opposites are the cures of the opposites.

—  Hippocrates, 460-370 BC, Ancient Greek physician, the “Father of Medicine”

We live, not as we wish to, but as we can.

—  Menander, 4th cent. BC, Ancient Greek dramatist (New Comedy)

For the wise is easy to go anywhere. Because the whole world is home for a good soul.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Wise is he who knows useful things, not he who knows many things.

—  Aeschylus, 525-456 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian

Man is the dream of a shadow.

—  Pindar, 522-438 BC, Ancient Greek lyric poet

The world is a stage, life is a passage. You came, you saw, you departed.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Soon, you will forget everything, and soon everybody will forget you.

—  Marcus Aurelius, 121-180 AD, Roman Emperor ‐ Meditations VII, 21

You are a little soul, carrying a corpse.

—  Epictetus, 50-120 AD, Ancient Greek Stoic philosopher

In death all men are earth and shadow. Naught come to naught.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Meleager

A deer picks up a fight with the lion.

—  Ancient Greek phrase

Earth breeds all and takes back all.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Antioppe

Circumstances rule men; men do not rule circumstances.

—  Herodotus, 480-420 BC, Ancient Greek historian, the “ father of History”

One cannot evade destiny.

—  Ancient Greek proverb

It is not possible to deceive or ignore the will of Zeus.

—  Hesiod, 7th cent. BC, Ancient Greek poet ‐ Theogony -613

In the beginning there was chaos.

—  Hesiod, 7th cent. BC, Ancient Greek poet ‐ Theogony -116

Anarchy is stronger than fire.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Hecuba

How might one bear misfortune? To see your enemy doing even worse.

—  Thales of Miletus, 643-548 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

It seems that excessive freedom leads to excessive enslavement.

—  Plato, 427-347 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher ‐ Republic

Much learning does not teach the mind.

—  Heraclitus, 544-484 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Excessive desires create excessive poverties.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

When one exceeds the due measure, the most pleasurable things become the most unpleasant.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Everything in excess is opposed to nature.

—  Hippocrates, 460-370 BC, Ancient Greek physician, the “Father of Medicine”

If the sweet is too much, it is no sweet any more.

—  Ancient Greek proverb

Excess of passion brings no glory or honor to men.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Medea