Sophocles quotes

“Not to be born is, past all prizing, best.”

— Sophocles

“One who knows how to show and to accept kindness will be a friend better than any possession. ”

— Sophocles

“There are some who praise a man free from disease; to me no man who is poor seems free from disease but to be constantly sick.”

— Sophocles

“He who throws away a friend is as bad as he who throws away his life.”

— Sophocles

“There is no greater evil than anarchy. ”

— Sophocles

“There is some pleasure even in words, when they bring forgetfulness of present miseries.”

— Sophocles

“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.”

— Sophocles

“There is no greater evil for men than the constraint of fortune.”

— Sophocles

“I would rather miss the mark acting well than win the day acting basely.”

— Sophocles

“To give birth is a fearsome thing; there is no hating the child one has borne even when injured by it.”

— Sophocles

“A human being is only breath and shadow.”

— Sophocles

“Bear up, my child, bear up; Zeus who oversees and directs all things is still mighty in heaven.”

— Sophocles

“For the wretched one night is like a thousand; for someone faring well death is just one more night.”

— Sophocles

“Not all things are to be discovered; many are better concealed.”

— Sophocles

“Whoever lives among many evils just as I, how can dying not be a source of gain?”

— Sophocles

“Reverence does not die with mortals, nor does it perish whether they live or die.”

— Sophocles

“A wise doctor does not mutter incantations over a sore that needs the knife.”

— Sophocles

“How sweet for those faring badly to forget their misfortunes even for a short time. ”

— Sophocles

“Do not grieve yourself too much for those you hate, nor yet forget them utterly. ”

— Sophocles

“I see the state of all of us who live, nothing more than phantoms or a weightless shadow.”

— Sophocles

“If you have done terrible things, you must endure terrible things; for thus the sacred light of injustice shines bright.”

— Sophocles

“The oaths of a woman I inscribe on water. ”

— Sophocles

“Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.”

— Sophocles

“No one longs to live more than someone growing old. ”

— Sophocles

“Don't you know that silence supports the accuser's charge? ”

— Sophocles

“If you were to offer a thirsty man all wisdom, you would not please him more than if you gave him a drink. ”

— Sophocles

“Evil counsel travels fast.”

— Sophocles

“No lie ever reaches old age.”

— Sophocles

“Despair often breeds disease.”

— Sophocles

“Whoever thinks that he alone has speech, or possesses speech or mind above others, when unfolded such men are seen to be empty. ”

— Sophocles