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
governed law obey people society
Society is well governed when the people obey the magistrates, and the magistrates obey the law
party men law
Men keep their engagements when it is an advantage to both parties not to break them.
party men law
Men keep their agreements when it is an advantage to both parties not to break them; and I shall so frame my laws that it will be evident to the Athenians that it will be for their interest to observe them.
law people empires
To make an empire durable, the magistrates must obey the laws and the people the magistrates.
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.
law people wells
Society is well governed when its people obey the magistrates, and the magistrates obey the law.
confused simple law
In the ideal State laws are few and simple, because they have been derived from certainties. In the corrupt State laws are many and confused, because they have been derived from uncertainties.
law break-through spiders
Laws are like spider's webs: If some poor weak creature comes up against them, it is caught; but a big one can break through and get away.
excited good race ran
Durant-Bennett just ran a good race, ... We're excited that we have one more meet. This is not the way we wanted to end.
hate
I hate to say it was vindication, but that is how we felt,
No one can be said to be happy until he is dead.
call happy man until
Call no man happy until he is dead, but only lucky.
best call death man
Call no man happy before he dies, he is at best but fortunate.
men desire riding
An unlucky rich man is more capable of satisfying his desires and of riding out disaster when it strikes, but a lucky man is better off than him...He is the one who deserves to be described as happy. But until he is dead, you had better refrain from calling him happy, and just call him fortunate.