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
return born ifs
It is best not to have been born at all: but, if born, as quickly as possible to return whence one came.
luxury house excellence
What house, bloated with luxury, ever became prosperous without a woman's excellence?
adversity sorrow causes
The keenest sorrow is to recognize ourselves as the sole cause of all our adversities.
helping-others luck needs
If we always helped one another, no one would need luck.
sight darkness deeds
No more shall ye behold such sights of woe, deeds I have suffered and myself have wrought; henceforward quenched in darkness shall ye see those ye should ne'er have seen; now blind to those whom, when I saw, I vainly yearned to know.
self-reliance atman helping
Chance never helps those who do not help themselves.
time all-time
Hide nothing, for time, which sees all and hears all, exposes all.
deeds ends wells
If one begins all deeds well, it is likely that they will end well too.
pain fate evil
If you try to cure evil with evil you will add more pain to your fate.
acting tests trials
Knowledge must come through action. You can have no test which is not fanciful, save by trial.
success rewards toil
Success, remember is the reward of toil.
motivational aids fortune
Fortune cannot aid those who do nothing.
truth prussia argument
The truth is always the strongest argument.
kindness real acceptance
One who knows how to show and to accept kindness will be a friend better than any possession.