Ancient Greek Sayings

ANCIENT GREEK SAYINGS

By all means marry. If you get a good wife you will become happy, and if you get a bad one you will become a philosopher.
--Socrates (470-399 B.C.)

Seeing a woman all dressed up for a trip to the city, Socrates remarked, "I suspect that your trip is not to see the city, but for the city to see you.
--Socrates (470-399 B.C.)

No better thing befalls a man than a good wife, no worse thing than a bad one.

--Semonides of Amorgos

The kind of events that once took place will by reason of human nature take places again.

--Thucydides

We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office --Aesop (~550 BC) Appearances often are deceiving. --Aesop (~550 BC) In union there is strength. --Aesop Never trust the advice of a man in difficulties. --Aesop Be content with your lot; one cannot be first in everything --Aesop We often despise what is most useful to us. --Aesop He that is neither one thing nor the other has no friends. --Aesop Wealth unused might as well not exist --Aesop

One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: that word is love.
--Sophocles

We cannot learn without pain.
--Aristotle

Misfortune shows those who are not really friends.
--Aristotle

Only the dead have seen the end of war
--Plato

Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.
--Plato

Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will fin d a way around the laws.
--Plato

To be at once exceedingly wealthy and good is impossible.
--Plato (c. 428-348 BC)

The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.

--Plato

First secure an independent income, then practice virtue.
--Greek Proverb

Asked once how far Sparta's borders stretched, Agesilaus brandished his spear, and said, "As far as this can reach."

There's nothing certain in man's life except this: That he must lose it.

--Aeschylus

Aristotle
No one ever creates anything great without a dash of madness.

Homer
Men grow tired of sleep, love, singing and dancing sooner than of war.

Delphic Maxims
Know yourself.
Nothing in excess.
Aid friends.
Control anger.
Shun unjust acts.
Ackowledge sacred things.
Hold on to learning.
Praise virtue.
Avoid enemies.
Cultivate kinsmen.
Pity supplicants.
Accomplish your limit.
When you err, repent.
Consider the time.
Worship the divine.
Accept old age.