Solon
Solon
Solonwas an Athenian statesman, lawmaker, and poet. He is remembered particularly for his efforts to legislate against political, economic, and moral decline in archaic Athens. His reforms failed in the short term, yet he is often credited with having laid the foundations for Athenian democracy. He wrote poetry for pleasure, as patriotic propaganda, and in defense of his constitutional reforms...
NationalityGreek
ProfessionStatesman
knowledge greek know-thyself
Know thyself. [Lat., Ne quis nimis. (From the Greek)]
fall law break-through
Laws are like spiders webs which, if anything small falls into them they ensnare it, but large things break through and escape.
military total-war command
Learn to obey before you command.
honor exceed
Honors achieved far exceed those that are created.
gratitude home men
If all men were to bring their miseries together in one place, most would be glad to take each his own home again rather than take a portion out of the common stock.
blessing men giving
As the Deity has given us Greeks all other blessings in moderation, so our moderation gives us a kind of wisdom which is timid, in all likelihood, and fit for common people, not one which is kingly and splendid. This wisdom, such as it is, observing that human life is ever subject to all sorts of vicissitudes, forbids us to be puffed up by the good things we have, or to admire a man's felicity while there is still time for it to change.
lying half truth-is
A half truth is the worst of all lies,because it can be defended in partiality.
justice injured has-beens
We can have justice whenever those who have not been injured by injustice are as outraged by it as those who have been.
law people wells
Society is well governed when its people obey the magistrates, and the magistrates obey the law.
reason guides all-things
In all things let reason be your guide.
soul grace desire
Pure chastity is beauty to our souls, grace to our bodies, and peace to our desires.
inspirational ends all-things
In all things that you do, consider the end.
bears nations
No more good must be attempted than the nation can bear
gold wicked riches
Often the wicked prosper, while the righteous starve; yet I would never exchange my state for theirs, my virtue for their gold. For mine endures, while riches change their owner every day.