-
All a man's affairs become diseased when he wishes to cure evils by evils.
-
Deem no man happy until he passes the edo fhis life without suffering grief.
-
None love the messenger who brings bad news.
-
Of no mortal say, 'That man is happy,' till vexed by no grievous ill he pass Life's goal.
-
Whoe'er imagines prudence all his own, Or deems that he hath powers to speak and judge Such as none other hath, when they are known, They are found shallow.
-
When I have tried and failed, I shall have failed.
-
For the gods, though slow to see, see well, whenever a man casting aside worship turns folly.
-
Quick decisions are unsafe decisions.
-
For the dead there are no more toils.
-
To never have been born may be the greatest boon of all.
-
Shame brings no advantage in misfortunes, for silence (of the accused) is the ally of the speaker.
-
Every wind is fare when we are flying from misfortune.
-
Fortune never helps the fainthearted.
-
When ice appears out of doors, and boys seize it up while it is solid, at first they experience new pleasures. But in the end their pride will not agree to let it go, but their acquisition is not good for them if it stays in their hands. In the same way an identical desire drives lovers to act and not to act.
-
All concerns of men go wrong when they wish to cure evil with evil.
-
If you were to offer a thirsty man all wisdom, you would not please him more than if you gave him a drink.
-
True, as unwisdom is the worst of ills.
-
Often have brief words laid men low and then raise them up.
-
When an oath is taken ... the mind is more attentive; for it guards against two things, the reproach of friends and offence against the gods.
-
Surely, to think your own the only wisdom, and yours the only word, the only will, betrays a shallow spirit, an empty heart.
-
If I am Sophocles, I am not mad; and if I am mad, I am not Sophocles.
-
You should not consider a man's age but his acts.
-
For kindness begets kindness evermore, But he from whose mind fades the memory Of benefits, noble is he no more.
-
If we always helped one another, no one would need luck.