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
children hate giving
To give birth is a fearsome thing; there is no hating the child one has borne even when injured by it.
giving silence grace
Silence gives the proper grace to women
sleep medicine giving
Sleep's the only medicine that gives ease.
laughter children giving
But whoever gives birth to useless children, what would you say of him except that he has bred sorrows for himself, and furnishes laughter for his enemies.
giving silence grace
To women silence gives their proper grace.
father opportunity giving
Give me a life wherever there is an opportunity to live, and better life than was my father's.
gratitude giving birth
Gratitude to gratitude always gives birth.
life live-life giving
Each one of us must live the life God gives him; it cannot be shirked.
kindness giving birth
Kindness gives birth to kindness.
cheating fail honor prefer win
I would prefer even to fail with honor than to win by cheating
brevity goes greek-poet wisdom
Much wisdom often goes with brevity of speech.
certainty learns though until
One learns by doing the thing; for though you think you know it, you have no certainty until you try
bad brings loves messenger news none
None loves the messenger who brings bad news.
crosses driven none path power stormy threaten white wonderful wonders
Wonders are many, and none is more wonderful than the power that crosses the white sea, driven by the stormy wind, making a path under surges that threaten to engulf him...