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Isocrates

Isocrates Quotes

Orator

Isocrates, a renowned Greek orator and philosopher, lived from 436 BC to 338 BC. He is known for his eloquence and profound philosophical thoughts, being one of the founders of Greek rhetorical theory. Isocrates advocated for the cultivation of moral and intellectual virtues in citizens through education, emphasizing personal修养 and social responsibility.

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Famous Isocrates Quotes

“The society drunk with freedom gives birth to tyranny.”

Freedom Tyranny

Author:Isocrates

“It was the principle of this Court that deterrent laws, however strict, are useless without positive moral discipline; that the happiness of citizens depends, not on having the walls of their porticoes covered with laws, but on having justice in their hearts.”

Book:Aeropagiticus

Source: Aeropagiticus

“If all who are engaged in the profession of education were willing to state the facts instead of making greater promises than they can possibly fulfill, they would not be in such bad repute with the lay- public.”

Ifs States Facts Education Greater Willing Promise Lays Profession Engaged

Book:Isocrates

Source: Isocrates

“If you be a lover of instruction, you will be well instructed.”

Ifs Wells Teaching Lovers Instruction

Author:Isocrates

“I maintain, then, that we should make peace, not only with the Chians, the Rhodians, the Byzantines and the Coans, but with all mankind.”

Should Peace Mankind Making Peace Byzantine

Book:Isocrates

Source: Isocrates

“It is not fitting that the evil produced by men should be imputed to things; let those bear the blame who make an ill use of things in themselves good.”

Men Should Use Evil Bears Blame Ill Fitting Intemperance Not Fitting

Author:Isocrates

“Whetstones are not themselves able to cut, but make iron sharp and capable of cutting.”

Able Cutting Teaching Capable Iron

Author:Isocrates

“Guard yourself against accusations, even if they are false; for the multitude are ignorant of the truth and look only to reputation.”

Ifs Looks Ignorant Reputation Multitudes Accusation

Book:Delphi Complete Works of Isocrates (Illustrated)

Source: Delphi Complete Works of Isocrates (Illustrated)

“We should not call a city happy because it attracts masses of citizens from everywhere; a fortunate city is one in which the race of the original inhabitants is best preserved.”

Should Race Cities Citizens Mass Originals Fortunate

Author:Isocrates

“Of all our possessions, wisdom alone is immortal.”

Author:Isocrates

“Spend your leisure time in cultivating an ear attentive to discourse, for in this way you will find that you learn with ease what others have found out with difficulty.”

Way Found Ears Difficulty Ease Leisure Discourse Cultivating Leisure Time

Book:Delphi Complete Works of Isocrates (Illustrated)

Source: Delphi Complete Works of Isocrates (Illustrated)

“So far has Athens left the rest of mankind behind in thought and expression that her pupils have become the teachers of the world, and she has made the name of Hellas distinctive no longer of race but of intellect, and the title of Hellene a badge of education rather than of common descent.”

World Made Names Left Common Race Behinds Teacher Mankind Expression Intellect Titles Pupils Descent Distinctive Badges Athens

Author:Isocrates

“Never hope to conceal any shameful thing which you have done; for even if you do conceal it from others, your own heart will know. … Pursue the enjoyments which are of good repute; for pleasure attended by honor is the best thing in the world, but pleasure without honor is the worst.”

Ifs Knows World Heart Done Pleasure Worst Honor Pursue Best Things Enjoyment Shameful

Book:Delphi Complete Works of Isocrates (Illustrated)

Source: Delphi Complete Works of Isocrates (Illustrated)

“Those who directed the state in the time of Solon and Cleisthenes did not establish a polity which ... trained the citizens in such fashion that they looked upon insolence as democracy, lawlessness as liberty, impudence of speech as equality, and licence to do what they pleased as happiness, but rather a polity which detested and punished such men and by so doing made all the citizens better and wiser.”

“Oratory is good only if it has the qualities of fitness for the occasion, propriety of style, and originality of treatment, while in the case of letters there is no such need whatsoever.”

Ifs Needs Quality Cases Style Letters Occasions Treatment Originality Propriety Oratory

Book:Delphi Complete Works of Isocrates (Illustrated)

Source: Delphi Complete Works of Isocrates (Illustrated)

“And let no one suppose that I claim that just living can be taught for, in a word, I hold that there does not exist an art of the kind which can implant sobriety and justice into depraved natures. Nevertheless, I do think that the study of political discourse can help more than any other thing to stimulate and form such qualities of character”

Thinking Kind Doe Art Character Helping Form Political Justice Quality Study Taught Claims Nevertheless Discourse Sobriety Depraved Implants Political Discourse

Author:Isocrates

“But I marvel when I observe these men setting themselves up as instructors of youth who cannot see that they are applying the analogy of an art with hard and fast rules to a creative process”

Men Art Hard Process Creative Youth Setting Settings Creative Process Analogies Instructors

Book:Isocrates

Source: Isocrates

“It is more important to know where you are going than to get there quickly. Do not mistake activity for achievement. Remember that there is nothing stable in human affairs, therefore avoid undue elation in prosperity or undue depression in adversity.”

“Consider that nothing in human life is stable; for then you will not exult overmuch in prosperity, nor grieve overmuch in adversity. Rejoice over the good things which come to you, but grieve in moderation over the evils which befall you.”

Humans Life Is Evil Difficulty Adversity Good Things Prosperity Human Life Grieving Rejoice Stable Moderation Coping

Book:Delphi Complete Works of Isocrates (Illustrated)

Source: Delphi Complete Works of Isocrates (Illustrated)

“Make no man your friend before inquiring how he has used his former friends; for you must expect him to treat you as he has treated them. Be slow to give your friendship, but when you have given it, strive to make it lasting; for it is as reprehensible to make many changes in one's associates as to have no friends at all. Neither test your friends to your own injury nor be willing to forego a test of your companions.”

Men Giving Used Given Friendship Willing Tests Treats Strive Treated Former Injury Companion Lasting Associates No Friends Inquiring Former Friends

Author:Isocrates

“Conduct yourself towards your parents as you would have your children conduct themselves towards you.”

Children Parent Our Children Parenting Your Children

Book:Delphi Complete Works of Isocrates (Illustrated)

Source: Delphi Complete Works of Isocrates (Illustrated)

“Always when you are about to say anything, first weigh it in your mind; for with many the tongue outruns the thought.”

Mind Firsts Communication Tongue Say Anything Outrun

Book:Delphi Complete Works of Isocrates (Illustrated)

Source: Delphi Complete Works of Isocrates (Illustrated)

“Let there be but two occasions for speech - when the subject is one which you thoroughly know and when it is one on which you are compelled to speak. On these occasions alone is speech better than silence; on all others, it is better to be silent than to speak.”

Knows Two Speak Silence Subjects Communication Speech Silent Occasions Compelled

Book:Delphi Complete Works of Isocrates (Illustrated)

Source: Delphi Complete Works of Isocrates (Illustrated)

“Regard as your most faithful friends, not those who praise everything you say or do, but those who criticize your mistakes.”

Mistake Praise Regard Faithful Criticize Corrections Faithful Friends

Book:Delphi Complete Works of Isocrates (Illustrated)

Source: Delphi Complete Works of Isocrates (Illustrated)

“Abhor flatterers as you would deceivers; for both, if trusted, injure those who trust them. If you admit as friends men who seek your favor for the lowest ends, your life will be lacking in friends who will risk your displeasure for the highest good.”

Ifs Men Ends Risk Highest Favors Trusted Lacking Lowest Corrections Flatterer Deceiver Displeasure

Book:Delphi Complete Works of Isocrates (Illustrated)

Source: Delphi Complete Works of Isocrates (Illustrated)

“Be gracious to all men, but choose the best to be your friends.”

Author:Isocrates

About the Author

Born: 436 BC
Died: 338 BC
Known for: Orator
Quotes: 26

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Ifs Men Knows Should Adversity Ancient Ancient Greek Art Citizens Communication

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Books & Sources

Delphi Complete Works of Isocrates (Illustrated)Related source material

IsocratesRelated source material

AeropagiticusRelated source material

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