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Sophocles

Sophocles Quotes

Playwright

Sophocles, born in 498 BC and died in 406 BC, was a renowned Greek tragic playwright. He is one of the three greatest tragic poets of ancient Greece, alongside Aeschylus and Euripides. Sophocles' works profoundly revealed the complexity of human nature and social contradictions, exerting a profound influence on subsequent drama.

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All Men Sophocles Antigone Evil Ifs Knows Electra Life Wisdom He Man Should Mind Wells Wise Death Deeds Doe Grief Justice Children

Famous Sophocles Quotes

“Man's highest blessedness, In wisdom chiefly stands; And in the things that touch upon the Gods, 'Tis best in word or deed To shun unholy pride; Great words of boasting bring great punishments, And so to grey-haired age Teach wisdom at the last.”

Men Wisdom Age Lasts Teach Pride Highest Deeds Punishment Grey Boast Blessedness

Book:The Tragedies of Sophocles. A new translation, with a biographical essay by E. H. Plumptre

Source: The Tragedies of Sophocles. A new translation, with a biographical essay by E. H. Plumptre

“Nothing so evil as money ever grew to be current among men. This lays cities low, this drives men from their homes, this trains and warps honest souls till they set themselves to works of shame; this still teaches folk to practise villainies, and to know every godless deed. But all the men who wrought this thing for hire have made it sure that, soon or late, they shall pay the price.”

Knows Men Made Stills Soul Home Evil Pay Cities Teach Honest He Man Grew Late Lows Shame Lays Train Folks Currents Deeds Made It Pay The Price Practise Warp Villainy

Book:Antigone

Source: Antigone

“If I am young, then you should look not to age but to deeds.”

Ifs Should Looks Age Young Youth Deeds

Author:Sophocles

“The Most beautiful human deed, is to be useful to others.”

Humans Beautiful Deeds

Author:Sophocles

“Ugly deeds are taught by ugly deeds.”

Justice Taught Diversity Social Justice Deeds Ugly

Book:Sophocles

Source: Sophocles

“To be doing good deeds is man's most glorious task.”

Men Evil Tasks Deeds Glorious Good Deeds Doing Good Deeds Done Kind Deeds

Author:Sophocles

“Go then if you must, but remember, no matter how foolish your deeds, those who love you will love you still.”

Ifs Life Stills Matter Remember Love You Deeds Foolish Still Love You Antigone

Author:Sophocles

“Money is the worst currency that ever grew among mankind. This sacks cities, this drives men from their homes, this teaches and corrupts the worthiest minds to turn base deeds.”

Men Mind Home Turns Money Cities Teach Worst Mankind Grew Deeds Currency

Author:Sophocles

“It was my care to make my life illustrious not by words more than by deeds.”

Author:Sophocles

“Now I see that going out into the testing ground of men it is the tongue and not the deed that wins the day.”

Men Winning Communication Deeds Tongue Going Out Testing

Author:Sophocles

“And if my present deeds are foolish in thy sight, it may be that a foolish judge arraigns my folly.”

Ifs May Judging Sight Deeds Foolish Folly Foolishness

Book:The Tragedies (Annotated Edition)

Source: The Tragedies (Annotated Edition)

“If one begins all deeds well, it is likely that they will end well too.”

Ifs Wells Ends Deeds

Author:Sophocles

“No more shall ye behold such sights of woe, deeds I have suffered and myself have wrought; henceforward quenched in darkness shall ye see those ye should ne'er have seen; now blind to those whom, when I saw, I vainly yearned to know.”

Knows Should Darkness Saws Sight Blind Deeds Woe

Book:Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone

Source: Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone

About the Author

Born: 498 BC
Died: 406 BC
Known for: Playwright
Quotes: 519

Related Topics

Men Sophocles Antigone Evil Ifs Knows Electra Life Wisdom He Man Should Mind Wells Wise Death Deeds Doe Grief Justice Children

Popular Topics

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Books & Sources

AntigoneRelated source material

SophoclesRelated source material

ElectraRelated source material

Sophocles I: Antigone, Oedipus the King, Oedipus at ColonusRelated source material

Sophocles II: Ajax, The Women of Trachis, Electra, Philoctetes, The TrackersRelated source material

The Oedipus Cycle: An English VersionRelated source material

Sophocles: FragmentsRelated source material

Oedipus RexRelated source material

Oedipus the KingRelated source material

Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, AntigoneRelated source material

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