Herodotus Quotes

In peace, sons bury their fathers. In war, fathers bury their sons. 
Herodotus 

The only good is knowledge, and the only evil is ignorance. 
Herodotus 

A man calumniated is doubly injured - first by him who utters the calumny, and then by him who believes it. 
Herodotus 

I never yet feared those men who set a place apart in the middle of their cities where they gather to cheat one another and swear oaths which they break. 
Herodotus 

Men trust their ears less than their eyes. 
Herodotus 

If a man insisted always on being serious, and never allowed himself a bit of fun and relaxation, he would go mad or become unstable without knowing it. 
Herodotus 

It is clear that not in one thing alone, but in many ways equality and freedom of speech are a good thing. 
Herodotus 

Some men give up their designs when they have almost reached the goal; While others, on the contrary, obtain a victory by exerting, at the last moment, more vigorous efforts than ever before. 
Herodotus 

Circumstances rule men; men do not rule circumstances. 
Herodotus 

Force has no place where there is need of skill. 
Herodotus 

The worst pain a man can suffer: to have insight into much and power over nothing. 
Herodotus 

It is better by noble boldness to run the risk of being subject to half the evils we anticipate than to remain in cowardly listlessness for fear of what might happen. 
Herodotus 

He is the best man who, when making his plans, fears and reflects on everything that can happen to him, but in the moment of action is bold. 
Herodotus 

Knowledge may give weight, but accomplishments give lustre, and many more people see than weigh. 
Herodotus 

Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest do not happen at all. The conscientious historian will correct these defects. 
Herodotus 

Death is a delightful hiding place for weary men. 
Herodotus 

Great things are won by great dangers. 
Herodotus 

As the old saw says well: every end does not appear together with its beginning. 
Herodotus 

Whatever comes from God is impossible for a man to turn back. 
Herodotus 

It's impossible for someone who is human to have all good things together, just as there is no single country able to provide all good things for itself. 
Herodotus 

Of all possessions a friend is the most precious. 
Herodotus 

Great deeds are usually wrought at great risks. 
Herodotus 

Of all men's miseries the bitterest is this: to know so much and to have control over nothing. 
Herodotus 

Illness strikes men when they are exposed to change. 
Herodotus 

All men's gains are the fruit of venturing. 
Herodotus 

The destiny of man is in his own soul. 
Herodotus 

In soft regions are born soft men. 
Herodotus 

Remember that with her clothes a woman puts off her modesty. 
Herodotus 

How much better a thing it is to be envied than to be pitied. 
Herodotus 

But I like not these great success of yours; for I know how jealous are the gods. 
Herodotus 

Men's fortunes are on a wheel, which in its turning suffers not the same man to prosper for ever. 
Herodotus 

Civil strife is as much a greater evil than a concerted war effort as war itself is worse than peace. 
Herodotus 

The man who has planned badly, if fortune is on his side, may have had a stroke of luck; but his plan was a bad one nonetheless. 
Herodotus 

The ears of men are lesser agents of belief than their eyes. 
Herodotus 

There is nothing more foolish, nothing more given to outrage than a useless mob. 
Herodotus 

I am bound to tell what I am told, but not in every case to believe it. 
Herodotus 

When a woman removes her garment, she also removes the respect that is hers. 
Herodotus 

To think well and to consent to obey someone giving good advice are the same thing. 
Herodotus 

The most hateful human misfortune is for a wise man to have no influence. 
Herodotus 

Many exceedingly rich men are unhappy, but many middling circumstances are fortunate. 
Herodotus


Soft men tend to be born from soft countries.
Herodotus 

If someone were to put a proposition before men bidding them choose, after examination, the best customs in the world, each nation would certainly select its own.
Herodotus 

One should always look to the end of everything, how it will finally come out. For the god has shown blessedness to many only to overturn them utterly in the end.
Herodotus 

Do you see how the god always hurls his bolts at the greatest houses and the tallest trees. For he is wont to thwart whatever is greater than the rest.
Herodotus 

God does not suffer presumption in anyone but himself.
Herodotus 

The gods loves to punish whatever is greater than the rest.
Herodotus

Euripides Quotes

Friends show their love in times of trouble. 
Euripides 

Cleverness is not wisdom. 
Euripides 

No one can confidently say that he will still be living tomorrow. 
Euripides 

Love is all we have, the only way that each can help the other. 
Euripides 

There is just one life for each of us: our own. 
Euripides 

He is not a lover who does not love forever. 
Euripides 

Ignorance of one's misfortunes is clear gain. 
Euripides 

Down on your knees, and thank heaven, fasting, for a good man's love. 
Euripides 

The greatest pleasure of life is love. 
Euripides 

The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life, acknowledge the great powers around us and in us. If you can do that, and live that way, you are really a wise man. 
Euripides 

One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives. 
Euripides 

To a father growing old nothing is dearer than a daughter. 
Euripides 

Forgive, son; men are men; they needs must err. 
Euripides 

It's not beauty but fine qualities, my girl, that keep a husband. 
Euripides 

Ten soldiers wisely led will beat a hundred without a head. 
Euripides 

Events will take their course, it is no good of being angry at them; he is happiest who wisely turns them to the best account. 
Euripides 

Life has no blessing like a prudent friend. 
Euripides 

Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish. 
Euripides 

Question everything. Learn something. Answer nothing. 
Euripides 

Do not consider painful what is good for you. 
Euripides 

Silence is true wisdom's best reply. 
Euripides 

Danger gleams like sunshine to a brave man's eyes. 
Euripides 

No one is truly free, they are a slave to wealth, fortune, the law, or other people restraining them from acting according to their will. 
Euripides 

Along with success comes a reputation for wisdom. 
Euripides 

Whoso neglects learning in his youth, loses the past and is dead for the future. 
Euripides 

But learn that to die is a debt we must all pay. 
Euripides 

Wealth stays with us a little moment if at all: only our characters are steadfast, not our gold. 
Euripides 

To persevere, trusting in what hopes he has, is courage in a man. 
Euripides 

The bold are helpless without cleverness. 
Euripides 

Better a serpent than a stepmother! 
Euripides 

Youth is the best time to be rich, and the best time to be poor. 
Euripides 

I would prefer as friend a good man ignorant than one more clever who is evil too. 
Euripides 

Happiness is brief. It will not stay. God batters at its sails. 
Euripides 

One does nothing who tries to console a despondent person with word. A friend is one who aids with deeds at a critical time when deeds are called for. 
Euripides 

Much effort, much prosperity. 
Euripides 

Those whom God wishes to destroy, he first makes mad. 
Euripides 

Prosperity is full of friends. 
Euripides 

In misfortune, which friend remains a friend? 
Euripides 

No one is happy all his life long. 
Euripides 

Human misery must somewhere have a stop; there is no wind that always blows a storm. 
Euripides


Fortune truly helps those who are of good judgment.
Euripides 

No one who lives in error is free.
Euripides 

Do not plan for ventures before finishing what's at hand.
Euripides 

'Twas but my tongue, 'twas not my soul that swore.
Euripides 

Among mortals second thoughts are wisest.
Euripides 

God hates violence. He has ordained that all men fairly possess their property, not seize it.
Euripides 

Some wisdom you must learn from one who's wise.
Euripides 

Chance fights ever on the side of the prudent.
Euripides 

Slight not what's near through aiming at what's far.
Euripides 

This is slavery, not to speak one's thought.
Euripides 

Nothing has more strength than dire necessity.
Euripides 

He was a wise man who originated the idea of God.
Euripides 

New faces have more authority than accustomed ones.
Euripides 

There is the sky, which is all men's together.
Euripides 

The good and the wise lead quiet lives.
Euripides 

The best of seers is he who guesses well.
Euripides 

Luckier than one's neighbor, but still not happy.
Euripides 

The lucky person passes for a genius.
Euripides 

Joint undertakings stand a better chance when they benefit both sides.
Euripides 

Authority is never without hate.
Euripides 

Impudence is the worst of all human diseases.
Euripides 

When a man's stomach is full it makes no difference whether he is rich or poor.
Euripides 

The wavering mind is but a base possession.
Euripides 

Silver and gold are not the only coin; virtue too passes current all over the world.
Euripides 

Leave no stone unturned.
Euripides

Demosthenes Quotes

Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises. 
Demosthenes 

A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true. 
Demosthenes 

You cannot have a proud and chivalrous spirit if your conduct is mean and paltry; for whatever a man's actions are, such must be his spirit. 
Demosthenes 

All speech is vain and empty unless it be accompanied by action. 
Demosthenes 

As a vessel is known by the sound, whether it be cracked or not; so men are proved, by their speeches, whether they be wise or foolish. 
Demosthenes 

What we have in us of the image of God is the love of truth and justice. 
Demosthenes

The readiest and surest way to get rid of censure, is to correct ourselves. 
Demosthenes 

What we wish, that we readily believe. 
Demosthenes 

To remind a man of the good turns you have done him is very much like a reproach. 
Demosthenes 

No man who is not willing to help himself has any right to apply to his friends, or to the gods. 
Demosthenes 

I am a citizen of the world. 
Demosthenes 

Every dictator is an enemy of freedom, an opponent of law. 
Demosthenes 

Close alliances with despots are never safe for free states. 
Demosthenes 

Beware lest in your anxiety to avoid war you obtain a master. 
Demosthenes 

Excessive dealings with tyrants are not good for the security of free states. 
Demosthenes 

The best protection for the people is not necessarily to believe everything people tell them. 
Demosthenes 

There is one safeguard known generally to the wise, which is an advantage and security to all, but especially to democracies as against despots - suspicion. 
Demosthenes

Aristophanes Quotes

Let each man exercise the art he knows. 
Aristophanes 

A man may learn wisdom even from a foe. 
Aristophanes 

Your lost friends are not dead, but gone before, advanced a stage or two upon that road which you must travel in the steps they trod. 
Aristophanes 

Hunger knows no friend but its feeder. 
Aristophanes 

Why, I'd like nothing better than to achieve some bold adventure, worthy of our trip. 
Aristophanes 

Under every stone lurks a politician. 
Aristophanes

High thoughts must have high language. 
Aristophanes 

Love is simply the name for the desire and the pursuit of the whole. 
Aristophanes 

Quickly, bring me a beaker of wine, so that I may wet my mind and say something clever. 
Aristophanes 

These impossible women! How they do get around us! The poet was right: Can't live with them, or without them. 
Aristophanes 

You cannot teach a crab to walk straight. 
Aristophanes 

Characteristics of a popular politician: a horrible voice, bad breeding, and a vulgar manner. 
Aristophanes 

Men of sense often learn from their enemies. It is from their foes, not their friends, that cities learn the lesson of building high walls and ships of war. 
Aristophanes 

The wise learn many things from their enemies. 
Aristophanes 

Wise people, even though all laws were abolished, would still lead the same life. 
Aristophanes 

A man's homeland is wherever he prospers. 
Aristophanes 

Evil events from evil causes spring. 
Aristophanes 

You should not decide until you have heard what both have to say. 
Aristophanes 

Open your mouth and shut your eyes and see what Zeus will send you. 
Aristophanes 

Shrines! Shrines! Surely you don't believe in the gods. What's your argument? Where's your proof? 
Aristophanes