Quotes

In every tyrant's heart there springs in the end this poison, that he cannot trust a friend.

Neither a life of anarchy nor one beneath a despot should you praise; to all that lies in the middle a god has given excellence.

I willingly speak to those who know, but for those who do not know I forget.

For this is the mark of a wise and upright man, not to rail against the gods in misfortune.

Justice turns the scale, bringing to some learning through suffering.

The wisest of the wise may err.

Mourn for me rather as living than as dead.

Know not to revere human things too much.

Since long I've held silence a remedy for harm.

Only when a man's life comes to its end in prosperity dare we pronounce him happy.

We must pronounce him fortunate who has ended his life in fair prosperity.

The man whose authority is recent is always stern.

He who goes unenvied shall not be admired.

Search well and be wise, nor believe that self-willed pride will ever be better than good counsel.

Whenever a man makes haste, God too hastens with him.

When a match has equal partners then I fear not.

I, schooled in misery, know many purifying rites, and I know where speech is proper and where silence.

What atonement is there for blood spilt upon the earth?

The evils of mortals are manifold; nowhere is trouble of the same wing seen.

And though all streams flow from a single course to cleanse the blood from polluted hand, they hasten on their course in vain.

For children preserve the fame of a man after his death.

It is an ill thing to be the first to bring news of ill.

It is good even for old men to learn wisdom.

It is a light thing for whoever keeps his foot outside trouble to advise and counsel him that suffers.

Don't you know this, that words are doctors to a diseased temperment?