Ancient Greek Quotes6

The human life is governed by nature and laws.

—  Aristotle, 384-322 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

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

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

Nature does nothing without purpose or in vain.

—  Aristotle, 384-322 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.

—  Aristotle, 384-322 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Nature does not make leaps.

—  Aristotle, 384-322 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

No form of Nature is inferior to Art. For the arts merely imitate natural forms

—  Marcus Aurelius, 121-180 AD, Roman Emperor ‐ Meditations XI, 10

Nature is wont to hide herself.

—  Heraclitus, 544-484 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Nothing given by nature is without order.

—  Aristotle, 384-322 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Man turns on the light at night while he himself is turned off.

—  Heraclitus, 544-484 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Man is the dream of a shadow.

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

The sun, as Heraclitus says, is new every day.

—  Heraclitus, 544-484 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Even the sun will not overstep its bounds.

—  Heraclitus, 544-484 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

The sun shines even on latrines but is not defiled.

—  Diogenes, 410-323 BC, Ancient Greek Cynic philosopher

Everything comes from earth and everything ends in earth.

—  Xenophanes, 570-480 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Earth breeds all and takes back all.

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

We all come from earth and water.

—  Xenophanes, 570-480 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

The best, however, [is] water

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

If you pollute clear water with mud, you shall never find to drink.

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

The ceaseless twinkling of laughter of the waves of the sea.

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

The rule of the sea is a great matter.

—  Thucydides, 460-394 BC, Ancient Greek historian

(Pericles’ oration)

To the question, “What came first, night or day?” “Night,” he said, “by one day.”

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

Night is for the thieves, light is for the truth.

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

Man turns on the light at night while he himself is turned off.

—  Heraclitus, 544-484 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Hunger coexists with darkness.

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

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

Poke not the fire with a sword.

—  Pythagoras, 580-490 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Plants exist for the sake of animals and animals for the sake of men.

—  Aristotle, 384-322 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

Good breeding for the animals means bodily strength and for the men grace of character.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

And I, as they say, am Diogenes the dog.

—  Diogenes, 410-323 BC, Ancient Greek Cynic philosopher

(introducing himself to Alexander the Great)

Thief knows thief and wolf knows wolf.

—  Ancient Greek proverb

A wolf in sheep’s clothing.

—  Aesop, 620-560 BC, Ancient Greek fabulist

The wolf will be blamed either guilty or not guilty.

—  Ancient Greek proverb

A friend and a horse are tested in a difficult situation.

—  Aesop, 620-560 BC, Ancient Greek fabulist

What an excellent horse do they lose, for want of address and boldness to manage him!

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

(seeing Bucephalas being led away as useless)

I know they use a short bridle for wild horses.

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

Pigs enjoy mud more than clean water.

—  Heraclitus, 544-484 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

There is nothing sweeter than to fly.

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

Birds love figs, but they don’t want to plant.

—  Athenaeus, 2nd-3rd cent. AD, Ancient Greek writer from Egypt

The snake would change its skin but it would not change its mindset.

—  Aesop, 620-560 BC, Ancient Greek fabulist

A snake will not become a dragon unless it eats a dragon.

—  Ancient Greek proverb