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
cheating fail honor prefer win
I would prefer even to fail with honor than to win by cheating
winter rivers yield
You see how when rivers are swollen in winter those trees that yield to the flood retain their branches, but those that offer resistance perish, trunk and all.
power men wind
Wonders are many, and none is more wonderful than man; the power that crosses the white sea, driven by the stormy wind, making a path under surges that threaten to engulf him...
winning missing acting
I would rather miss the mark acting well than win the day acting basely.
men winning deeds
Now I see that going out into the testing ground of men it is the tongue and not the deed that wins the day.
friendship winning yield
You win the victory when you yield to friends.
wind flying misfortunes
Every wind is fare when we are flying from misfortune.
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...
dreadful greek-poet knowledge truth
How dreadful knowledge of the truth can be when there's no help in the truth.
death wants
For death is not the worst, but when one wants to die and is not able even to have that.
shalt
If we are to keep our democracy, there must be one commandment: 'Thou shalt not ration justice.'