Ignorant men don't know what good they hold in their hands until they've flung it away.
– Sophocles
Much speech is one thing, well-timed speech is another.
– Sophocles
One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love.
– Sophocles
The keenest sorrow is to recognize ourselves as the sole cause of all our adversities.
– Sophocles
What you cannot enforce, do not command.
– Sophocles
No man loves life like him that's growing old.
– Sophocles
To him who is in fear everything rustles.
– Sophocles
It is not righteousness to outrage A brave man dead, not even though you hate him.
– Sophocles
Of all human ills, greatest is fortune's wayward tyranny.
– Sophocles
For God hates utterly The bray of bragging tongues.
– Sophocles
Grief teaches the steadiest minds to waver.
– Sophocles
How dreadful it is when the right judge judges wrong!
– Sophocles
I have nothing but contempt for the kind of governor who is afraid, for whatever reason, to follow the course that he knows is best for the State; and as for the man who sets private friendship above the public welfare - I have no use for him either.
– Sophocles
Money: There's nothing in the world so demoralizing as money.
– Sophocles
Nobody likes the man who brings bad news.
– Sophocles
Numberless are the world's wonders, but none More wonderful than man.
– Sophocles
Reason is God's crowning gift to man.
– Sophocles
Show me the man who keeps his house in hand, He's fit for public authority.
– Sophocles
The ideal condition Would be, I admit, that men should be right by instinct; But since we are all likely to go astray, The reasonable thing is to learn from those who can teach.
– Sophocles
There is no happiness where there is no wisdom; No wisdom but in submission to the gods. Big words are always punished, And proud men in old age learn to be wise.
– Sophocles
Wisdom outweighs any wealth.
– Sophocles
Truly, to tell lies is not honorable; but when the truth entails tremendous ruin, To speak dishonorably is pardonable.
– Sophocles
Death is not the worst thing; rather, when one who craves death cannot attain even that wish.
– Sophocles
The end excuses any evil.
– Sophocles
It made our hair stand up in panic fear.
– Sophocles
Stranger in a strange country.
– Sophocles
The good befriend themselves.
– Sophocles
The greatest griefs are those we cause ourselves.
– Sophocles
Time eases all things.
– Sophocles
A prudent mind can see room for misgiving, lest he who prospers would one day suffer reverse.
– Sophocles
Knowledge must come through action; you can have no test which is not fanciful, save by trial.
– Sophocles
Rash indeed is he who reckons on the morrow, or haply on days beyond it; for tomorrow is not, until today is past.
– Sophocles
You should not consider a man's age but his acts.
– Sophocles
Wisdom is the supreme part of happiness.
– Sophocles
Whoever thinks that he alone has speech, or possesses speech or mind above others, when unfolded such men are seen to be empty.
– Sophocles
Whoever neglects the arts when he is young has lost the past and is dead to the future.
– Sophocles
Who seeks shall find.
– Sophocles
When a man has lost all happiness, he's not alive. Call him a breathing corpse.
– Sophocles
War never takes a wicked man by chance, the good man always.
– Sophocles
Trust dies but mistrust blossoms.
– Sophocles
To be doing good deeds is man's most glorious task.
– Sophocles
Time alone reveals the just man but you might discern a bad man in a single day.
– Sophocles
Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.
– Sophocles
There is no success without hardship.
– Sophocles
The rewards of virtue alone abide secure.
– Sophocles
Success is dependent on effort.
– Sophocles
Silence is an ornament for women.
– Sophocles
Profit is sweet, even if it comes from deception.
– Sophocles
Old age and the passage of time teach all things.
– Sophocles
Not to be born is, past all prizing, best.
– Sophocles
Not even old age knows how to love death.
– Sophocles
No speech can stain what is noble by nature.
– Sophocles
No lie ever reaches old age.
– Sophocles
Much wisdom often goes with fewest words.
– Sophocles
Money is the worst currency that ever grew among mankind. This sacks cities, this drives men from their homes, this teaches and corrupts the worthiest minds to turn base deeds.
– Sophocles
Men should pledge themselves to nothing for reflection makes a liar of their resolution.
– Sophocles
Men of ill judgment ignore the good that lies within their hands, till they have lost it.
– Sophocles
It is the merit of a general to impart good news, and to conceal the truth.
– Sophocles
It is best to live however one can be.
– Sophocles
It is a base thing for a man among the people not to obey those in command. Never in a state can the laws be well administered when fear does not stand firm.
– Sophocles
If you were to offer a thirsty man all wisdom, you would not please him more than if you gave him a drink.
– Sophocles
How dreadful knowledge of the truth can be when there's no help in the truth.
– Sophocles
Hide nothing, for time, which sees all and hears all, exposes all.
– Sophocles
God's dice always have a lucky roll.
– Sophocles
Fortune raises up and fortune brings low both the man who fares well and the one who fares badly and there is no prophet of the future for mortal men.
– Sophocles
For the wretched one night is like a thousand for someone faring well death is just one more night.
– Sophocles
Evil gains work their punishment.
– Sophocles
Children are the anchors of a mother's life.
– Sophocles
Best to live lightly, unthinkingly.
– Sophocles
Always desire to learn something useful.
– Sophocles
All is disgust when a man leaves his own nature and does what is unfit.
– Sophocles
A word does not frighten the man who, in acting, feels no fear.
