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
gains late wells
To know that all is well, even if late will come to know it, is at least some gain.
firsts impossible meek
Even from the first it is meek to seek the impossible.
fate evil enemy
Yet I pity the poor wretch, though he's my enemy. He's yoked to an evil delusion, but the same fate could be mine. I see clearly: we who live are all phantoms, fleeing shadows.
iron fire fragments
The stubbornest of wills Are soonest bended, as the hardest iron, O'er-heated in the fire to brittleness,Flies soonest into fragments, shivered through.
goodbye shining sun
Goodbye to the sun that shines for me no longer;
family parent ideals
Everything is ideal to its parent.
war dark fate
Dreadful is the mysterious power of fate; there is no deliverance from it by wealth or by war, by walled city or dark, seabeaten ships.
wise wisdom age
There is no such thing as the old age of the wise.
forgiveness silence silent
Pardon, and keep silent, for what is shameful for women must be concealed among women.
friendship men harbors
For most men friendship is a faithless harbor.
men speech lows
Often have brief words laid men low and then raise them up.
children father may
Oh child, may you be happier than your father, but in all other respects alike. And then you would not be bad.
change loss night
The shimmering night does not stay for mortals, not misfortunes, nor wealth, but in a moment it is gone, and to the turn of another comes joy and loss.
silence allies shame
Shame brings no advantage in misfortunes, for silence (of the accused) is the ally of the speaker.