Sophocles
Sophocles
Sophocles is one of three ancient Greek tragedians whose plays have survived. His first plays were written later than those of Aeschylus, and earlier than or contemporary with those of Euripides. Sophocles wrote 120 plays during the course of his life, but only seven have survived in a complete form: Ajax, Antigone, The Women of Trachis, Oedipus the King, Electra, Philoctetes and Oedipus at Colonus. For almost 50 years, Sophocles was the most celebrated playwright in the dramatic competitions of...
NationalityGreek
ProfessionPoet
country thinking important
Whoever thinks his friend more important than his country, I rate him nowhere.
mother children fall
I am the child of Fortune, the giver of good, and I shall not be shamed. She is my mother; my sisters are the Seasons; my rising and my falling match with theirs. Born thus, I ask to be no other man than that I am.
enemy
Enemies gifts are no gifts and do no good.
justice harm
There are times when even justice brings harm with it.
destiny
Whatever God has brought about Is to be borne with courage.
drug disease physicians
Whoever grows angry amid troubles applies a drug worse than the disease and is a physician unskilled about misfortunes.
truth lying ruins
Truly, to tell lies is not honorable; but when the truth entails tremendous ruin, To speak dishonorably is pardonable.
fate blame knows
What fate can be worse than to know we have no one but ourselves to blame for our misfortunes!
pain departed suffering
Count no mortal fortunate till he has departed this life free from pain.
beautiful looks ugly
Wealth makes an ugly person beautiful to look on and an incoherent speech eloquent; and wealth alone can enjoy pleasure even in sickness and can conceal its miseries.
trust mistrust dies
Trust dies but mistrust blossoms.
evil pet want
Death is not the greatest of evils; it is worse to want to die, and not be able to.
conceited judging speak
Whoe'er imagines prudence all his own, Or deems that he hath powers to speak and judge Such as none other hath, when they are known, They are found shallow.
inspirational attitude men
Heaven never helps the man who will not help himself