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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

“We should not speak of one that prospers well As happy, till his life have run its course, And reached its goal. An evil spirit's gift In shortest time has oft laid low the state Of one full rich in great prosperity, When the change comes, and so the Gods appoint.”

Should Wells States Running Spirit Courses Evil Speak Goal Rich Lows Prosperity Evil Spirits

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

“Henceforth ye may thieve with better knowledge whence lucre should be won, and learn that it is not well to love gain from every source. For thou wilt find that ill-gotten pelf brings more men to ruin than to weal.”

Men Should Wells May Source Gains Ill Ruins

Book:The Tragedies (Annotated Edition)

Source: The Tragedies (Annotated Edition)

“A prudent mind can see room for misgiving, lest he who prospers should one day suffer reverse.”

Should Mind Suffering Rooms One Day Reverse Prudent Misgivings

Book:The Tragedies (Annotated Edition)

Source: The Tragedies (Annotated Edition)

“A prudent man should neglect no circumstances.”

Men Should Circumstances Neglect Prudent

Author:Sophocles

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

Ifs Should Looks Age Young Youth Deeds

Author:Sophocles

“The man from whom the joys of life have departed is living no more, but should be counted with the dead.”

Men Should Joy He Man Joy Of Life Departed

Author:Sophocles

“Who feels no ills, should, therefore, fear them; and when fortune smiles, be doubly cautious, lest destruction come remorseless on him, and he fall unpitied.”

Feels Should Fall Destruction Fortune Prosperity Cautious Remorseless

Book:Sophocles

Source: Sophocles

“A man though wise, should never be ashamed of learning more, and must unbend his mind.”

Men Inspirational Should Mind Education Wise Teaching Students Training Ashamed Learning More Antigone

Book:Sophocles

Source: Sophocles

“The ideal condition would be, I admit, that men should be right by instinct; but since we are all likely to go astray, The reasonable thing is to learn from those who can teach”

Men Should Would Be Teach Learning Conditions Ideals Instinct Intuition Reasonable Antigone

Book:The Oedipus Cycle: An English Version

Source: The Oedipus Cycle: An English Version

“There is an ancient saying, famous among men, that thou shouldst not judge fully of a man's life before he dieth, whether it should be called blest or wretched.”

Men Life Should Judging Fame Ancient Wretched

Author:Sophocles

“You should not consider a man's age but his acts.”

Men Should Age Aging Birthday Eugenics 50th Birthday

Author:Sophocles

“When he endures nothing but endless miseries-- What pleasure is there in living the day after day, Edging slowly back and forth toward death? Anyone who warms their heart with the glow Of flickering hope is worth nothing at all. The noble man should either live with honor or die with honor. That's all there is to be said.”

Men Should Heart Said Dies Pleasure Honor Misery Endure Noble Endless Back And Forth Noble Man

Book:Four Tragedies: Ajax, Women of Trachis, Electra, Philoctetes

Source: Four Tragedies: Ajax, Women of Trachis, Electra, Philoctetes

“Let be the future: mind the present need and leave the rest to whom the rest concerns ... present tasks claim our care: the ordering of the future rests where it should rest.”

Needs Should Mind Care Concern Tasks Claims

Author:Sophocles

“Men should pledge themselves to nothing; for reflection makes a liar of their resolution.”

Men Should Lying Reflection Liars Resolution Pledge

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

“Why should man fear since chance is all in all for him, and he can clearly foreknow nothing? Best to live lightly, as one can, unthinkingly.”

Men Should Chance Chances Are

Book:Oedipus the King

Source: Oedipus the King

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

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People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

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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