Sophocles (496 BC – 406 BC) born in Colonus, near Athens, was a prominent tragic poet of Ancient Greece. Among his most famous works are Oedipus Rex and Antigone.
Although he was a prolix author, only seven of his tragedies were preserved intact, and they were a touchstone for the tragic genre.
Sophocles Quotes
With the aim of getting closer to the work and thoughts of this exceptional Greek poet, In today’s article we have set out to compile the best famous quotes and phrases from Sophocles
1. Truth is stronger than reason.
A sample of its realism.
2. The same story always repeats itself: each individual thinks only of himself.
Egocentrism seems to be an inherent characteristic of the human species, according to Sophocles.
3. It is a noble thing, even for an old man, to learn.
Constant learning gives us a better future.
4. He who is good in the family is also a good citizen.
Affectionate and dedicated family member, civic-minded and responsible citizen.
5. He who gives up a friend is like he who gives up his life.
Existence is too short not to have loyal people by your side.
6. Get married; If by chance you find a good woman, you will be happy; If not, you will become a philosopher, which is always useful to a man.
In any case, being happy is in your hands.
7. A man’s life cannot be judged until death has put an end to it.
There is always time to change course… until death prevents us from doing so.
8. For those who are afraid, everything is noise.
One of those metaphorical phrases from Sophocles that tells us about a kind of hypochondria.
9. Children are the anchors that tie mothers to life.
About maternal love, infinite and eternal.
10. The most beautiful human work is to be useful to others.
That others enjoy your company is one of the best rewards.
11. Lying in the midst of misfortune, the soul sees much.
When we are sunk, the soul rises to the surface.
12. You ask me whether or not you should get married; Well, anything you do you will regret.
Ironic phrase by Sophocles when faced with a citizen’s doubt.
13. The heavens never help the man who does not want to act.
If you are not able to take action, do not expect the universe to send you riches.
14. The greatest joy is the unexpected.
Reflection on happiness.
15. Knowledge is the most considerable part of happiness.
Agreeing with other Greek thinkers, Sophocles placed great importance on accumulating knowledge.
16. It is terrible to speak well when you are wrong.
A great use of oratory does not guarantee having the truth.
17. It is common to make mistakes. But when one has made a mistake, it is not a lack of will or spirit to try to correct the error and not persist in it. Stubbornness is the other name for stupidity.
Correcting one’s mistakes is a sign of maturity and responsibility.
18. A lie never lives to be old.
He has very short legs.
19. Man’s worst evil is thoughtlessness.
He who does not know how to think will not know how to live.
20. Constant and perpetual wealth is virtue.
Great reflection by Sophocles.
21. There are many things wonderful, but none like man. He has resources for everything; only death has not been avoided.
Optimistic with the human species, Sophocles thus spoke about the creative potential of each person.
22. A wicked man is known in a single day; To know the right man it takes more time.
About the types of people and their ethical or perverse background.
23. Death is not the greatest of evils: it is worse to want to die and not be able to do so.
A phrase that seems to talk about the need to legalize euthanasia.
24. Never having been born can be the greatest of favors.
A somewhat pessimistic view of existence.
25. It is always good to sail when fleeing evil.
Metaphor to apply to life.
26. The truth is always the strongest argument.
Nothing and no one can defeat the force of the truth of the facts.
27. One word frees us from all the weight and pain of life: that word is love.
A truly modern and humanistic approach that places love as salvation from all evil.
28. A man, even if he is wise, should never be ashamed to learn more, and should divert his mind.
Not losing curiosity and continuing to be hungry for learning, that should be our philosophy.
29. A fearful man is always listening to things.
We must be brave in life and forget everything that others may say.
A recipe that we can follow daily to make the world a better place.
31. Of all evils, the most painful are those that one inflicts on oneself.
A truth like a temple. We are our worst enemy.
32. There are many things mysterious, but none is more mysterious than man.
The mystery and veneration for man were constant in several classical thinkers.
33. The noble must live with honor or die with honor
Honor is a value that is being lost in our days and with which the classics lived and died.
34. All men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong and repairs the wrong. The only crime is pride.
A piece of advice that we must remember for the rest of our days.
35. The path I have followed, I have followed without knowing anything.
A good way to face the phenomenon of knowledge is to start by recognizing that we know very little about life.
36. Much wisdom often goes with fewer words.
The quietest people have the loudest minds.
37. What greater wound is there than a false friend?
When you realize that a friend has failed you, you feel vulnerable and miserable.
38. The truth hates delay.
Truth as a supreme value is one of the most prominent philosophies of the time.
39. Anyone who has not suffered what I have, should not give me advice.
Only we know what we have been going through.
40. You must remember that no one lives a life free of pain and suffering.
A pessimistic way of seeing life, where the only constant is regret.
41. There is no tomorrow for which today does not end well.
Tomorrow we can always improve everything we have done well today.
42. All men’s concerns go awry when they wish to cure evil with evil.
To achieve good, we can only use good.
43. Fear, among many other things, suits tyranny.
All the tyrannies in the world are based on fear, fear and submission.
44. Man is only air and shadow.
The great thinkers of ancient Greece contributed their ideas about matter, the human being and the reality that surrounded them.
45. Kindness gives birth to kindness.
A truth that remains valid after more than 2000 years of history.
46. Our happiness depends on wisdom at all times.
A decisive commitment to the power of the intellect as a way to achieve happiness.
47. A man who takes pleasure in talking continually deceives himself into thinking that he is not unpleasant to those around him.
There are few things more unpleasant than charlatans.
48. Fortune is not on the side of the faint of heart.
Only strength will make us achieve all our goals.
49. Let men be wise by instinct if they can, but when this fails, be wise with good counsel.
It never hurts to accept advice from others that can help us become wiser.
50. Without work nothing prospers.
Hard work and commitment, there is no other recipe to succeed in life.
51. If we always helped each other, no one would need luck.
The world would certainly be a better place if that happened.
52. I fear nothing, because I maintain the truth, which is powerful.
Like many great thinkers, this great poet values truth as the supreme good.
53. The world is full of wonders, but nothing is as wonderful as man himself.
A humanist plea, in favor of the infinite possibilities of our species.
54. Opinions have greater power than the strength of the hands.
Reason and the force of conviction through intellect will always defeat violence.
55. Laziness is the mother of all evils.
Without a doubt, one of the most accurate famous quotes.
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