Solon
Solon
Solonwas an Athenian statesman, lawmaker, and poet. He is remembered particularly for his efforts to legislate against political, economic, and moral decline in archaic Athens. His reforms failed in the short term, yet he is often credited with having laid the foundations for Athenian democracy. He wrote poetry for pleasure, as patriotic propaganda, and in defense of his constitutional reforms...
NationalityGreek
ProfessionStatesman
hate
I hate to say it was vindication, but that is how we felt,
excited good race ran
Durant-Bennett just ran a good race, ... We're excited that we have one more meet. This is not the way we wanted to end.
governed law obey people society
Society is well governed when the people obey the magistrates, and the magistrates obey the law
leadership empowering-others born-leaders
He who has learned how to obey will know how to command.
blessing men giving
As the Deity has given us Greeks all other blessings in moderation, so our moderation gives us a kind of wisdom which is timid, in all likelihood, and fit for common people, not one which is kingly and splendid. This wisdom, such as it is, observing that human life is ever subject to all sorts of vicissitudes, forbids us to be puffed up by the good things we have, or to admire a man's felicity while there is still time for it to change.
citizens done injury
The ideal state is that in which an injury done to the least of its citizens is an injury done to all.
party men law
Men keep their engagements when it is an advantage to both parties not to break them.
gentleman weight oath
Consider your honour, as a gentleman, of more weight than an oath.
knowledge greek know-thyself
Know thyself. [Lat., Ne quis nimis. (From the Greek)]
party men law
Men keep their agreements when it is an advantage to both parties not to break them; and I shall so frame my laws that it will be evident to the Athenians that it will be for their interest to observe them.
riches satiety
Satiety comes of riches and contumaciousness of satiety.
trust character nobility
Put more trust in nobility of character than in an oath.
gold wicked riches
Often the wicked prosper, while the righteous starve; yet I would never exchange my state for theirs, my virtue for their gold. For mine endures, while riches change their owner every day.
each-day something-new grows
Each day grow older, and learn something new;