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
men pleasure
Man is not constituted to take pleasure in the same things always.
evil anarchy anarchism
There is no greater evil than anarchy.
evil
No one who errs unwillingly is evil.
all-things concealed
Not all things are to be discovered; many are better concealed.
battle
Not even Ares battles against necessity.
despair disease
Despair often breeds disease.
punishment evil gains
Evil gains work their punishment.
toil rewards classroom
Success is the reward for toil.
good-times timeliness seasons
In season, all is good.
men evil wish
All concerns of men go wrong when they wish to cure evil with evil.
fall people sorrow
When people fall in deep distress, their native sense departs.
life rocks one-day
All our mortal lives are set in danger and perplexity: one day to prosper, and the next -- who knows? When all is well, then look for rocks ahead.
time
Time is a kindly God.
skins obedience authority
Obedience to authority saves many skins