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
helping cowardice fortune
Fortune never helps the fainthearted.
taught
What is to be taught I learn; what is to be discovered I seek; what is to be prayed for I sought from the gods.
change loss night
The shimmering night does not stay for mortals, not misfortunes, nor wealth, but in a moment it is gone, and to the turn of another comes joy and loss.
silence allies shame
Shame brings no advantage in misfortunes, for silence (of the accused) is the ally of the speaker.
errors evil common
To err is common to all mankind, but having erred he is no longer reckless nor unblest who haven fallen into evil seeks a cure, nor remains unmoved.
outrage righteousness
It is not righteousness to outrage
heart thinking spirit
Surely, to think your own the only wisdom, and yours the only word, the only will, betrays a shallow spirit, an empty heart.
path common mankind
To err from the right path is common to mankind.
gains late wells
To know that all is well, even if late will come to know it, is at least some gain.
sorrow revive
To revive sorrow is cruel.
smart grief choices
Those griefs smart most which are seen to be of our own choice.
persons
To the person who is afraid, everything rustles.
anger judgment gentle
To those who err in judgment, not in will, anger is gentle.
heart stout approach
Even the stout of heart shrink when they see the approach of death.