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
good greek-poet hold ignorant men until
Ignorant men don't know what good they hold in their hands until they've flung it away.
among ancient call cannot good greek-poet life man men mortals saying thoroughly understand
There is an ancient saying among men that you cannot thoroughly understand the life of mortals before the man has died, then only can you call it good or bad.
war men good-man
War never takes a wicked man by chance, the good man always.
good-night wells thousand
For the wretched one night is like a thousand; for someone faring well death is just one more night.
good-friend turns
Rather throw away that which is dearest to you, your own life, than turn away a good friend.
thrifty stewards goods
Be a thrifty steward of thy goods.
goodbye shining sun
Goodbye to the sun that shines for me no longer;
good-times timeliness seasons
In season, all is good.
kindness goodness-and-kindness love-and-kindness
Kindness is ever the begetter of kindness.
men good-man tasks
It is the task of a good man to help those in misfortune.
speak dishonor good-sense
It can be no dishonor to learn from others when they speak good sense.
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