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37 Famous Sophocles Quotes on Life (FATE)

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Top 12 Most Famous Sophocles Quotes About Life (BEST)

Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud.
Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud.
One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love.
One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love.
Fortune is not on the side of the faint-hearted.
Fortune is not on the side of the faint-hearted.
All men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong, and repairs the evil. The only crime is pride.
All men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong, and repairs the evil. The only crime is pride.
One must wait until the evening to see how splendid the day has been.
One must wait until the evening to see how splendid the day has been.
The keenest sorrow is to recognize ourselves as the sole cause of all our adversities.
The keenest sorrow is to recognize ourselves as the sole cause of all our adversities.
A man, though wise, should never be ashamed of learning more, and must unbend his mind.
A man, though wise, should never be ashamed of learning more, and must unbend his mind.
If you try to cure evil with evil, you will add more pain to your fate.
If you try to cure evil with evil, you will add more pain to your fate.
Time, which sees all things, has found you out.
Time, which sees all things, has found you out.
How dreadful the knowledge of the truth can be when there’s no help in truth.
How dreadful the knowledge of the truth can be when there’s no help in truth.
I would prefer even to fail with honor than win by cheating.
I would prefer even to fail with honor than win by cheating.
To be doing good deeds is man's most glorious task.
To be doing good deeds is man’s most glorious task.

25 Inspirational Sophocles Quotes on Life, Love and Fate (PHILOSOPHY)

Go then if you must, but remember, no matter how foolish your deeds, those who love you will love you still.
Go then if you must, but remember, no matter how foolish your deeds, those who love you will love you still.
To throw away an honest friend is, as it were, to throw your life away.
To throw away an honest friend is, as it were, to throw your life away.
You must remember that no one lives a life free from pain and suffering.
You must remember that no one lives a life free from pain and suffering.
I have no desire to suffer twice, in reality and then in retrospect.
I have no desire to suffer twice, in reality and then in retrospect.
If we are to keep our democracy, there must be one commandment: 'Thou shalt not ration justice'.
If we are to keep our democracy, there must be one commandment: ‘Thou shalt not ration justice’.
There's nothing in the world so demoralizing as money.
There’s nothing in the world so demoralizing as money.
Fear? What has a man to do with fear? Chance rules our lives, and the future is all unknown. Best live as we may, from day to day.
Fear? What has a man to do with fear? Chance rules our lives, and the future is all unknown. Best live as we may, from day to day.
I was born to join in love, not hate - that is my nature.
I was born to join in love, not hate – that is my nature.
The truth is always the strongest argument.
The truth is always the strongest argument.
Without labor nothing prospers.
Without labor nothing prospers.
Tomorrow is tomorrow. Future cares have future cures... And we must mind today.
Tomorrow is tomorrow. Future cares have future cures… And we must mind today.
No one loves the messenger who brings bad news.
No one loves the messenger who brings bad news.
Grief teaches the steadiest minds to waver.
Grief teaches the steadiest minds to waver.
We have only a little time to please the living. But all eternity to love the dead.
We have only a little time to please the living. But all eternity to love the dead.
Our happiness depends on wisdom all the way.
Our happiness depends on wisdom all the way.
Alas, how terrible is wisdom when it brings no profit to the man that's wise!
Alas, how terrible is wisdom when it brings no profit to the man that’s wise!
Leave me to my own absurdity.
Leave me to my own absurdity.
A city which belongs to just one man is no true city.
A city which belongs to just one man is no true city.
Wisdom outweighs any wealth.
Wisdom outweighs any wealth.
A short saying often contains much wisdom.
A short saying often contains much wisdom.
Look and you will find it - what is unsought will go undetected.
Look and you will find it – what is unsought will go undetected.
It is terrible to speak well and be wrong.
It is terrible to speak well and be wrong.
In a just cause the weak will beat the strong.
In a just cause the weak will beat the strong.
There is no success without hardship.
There is no success without hardship.
Enemies' gifts are no gifts and do no good.
Enemies’ gifts are no gifts and do no good.

Sophocles Short Biography

Born on 496 BCE in Colonus, near Athens, Sophocles was a playwright who wrote over 120 plays in his lifetime.

He was born into a prominent family and received a good education as a child. Unfortunately, not much is known about Sophocles. Historians note that he served as treasurer, and he had also been elected as a stratēgoi who commanded armed forces.

Sophocles was well known among social circles in Athens due to personality and wealth. As a dramatist, he was known for the changes he brought to the theater. He increased the number of actors on a stage from the usual two (or duet) to 3, which allowed for scenes to become more dramatic, which deepened the development of characters.

Of his 120 plays, only 7 have survived in completion. Of the 7 remaining plays, most historians believe Ajax to be the earliest written play.

Sophocles had also written Oedipus the King (or Oedipus Rex) a play based on the mythical Greek hero who had killed his father and married his mother. Sigmund Freud, a popular neurologist coined the term Oedipus complex from this tale.

Further Reading:

Here are the best Sophocles quotes so you can strive to discover your true passion and purpose in life.

(MUST READ)

The Three Theban Plays: Antigone; Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus
The Three Theban Plays: Antigone; Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus

Also read:

Famous Sophocles Quotes on Life (FATE) - Gracious Quotes