Philosophers / Thinkers

37 Famous Sophocles Quotes on Life (FATE)

Top 12 Most Famous Sophocles Quotes About Life (BEST)

Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud.Pin
Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud.
One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love.Pin
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.Pin
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.Pin
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.Pin
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.Pin
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.Pin
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.Pin
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.Pin
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.Pin
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.Pin
I would prefer even to fail with honor than win by cheating.
To be doing good deeds is man's most glorious task.Pin
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.Pin
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.Pin
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.Pin
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.Pin
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'.Pin
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.Pin
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.Pin
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.Pin
I was born to join in love, not hate – that is my nature.
The truth is always the strongest argument.Pin
The truth is always the strongest argument.
Without labor nothing prospers.Pin
Without labor nothing prospers.
Tomorrow is tomorrow. Future cares have future cures... And we must mind today.Pin
Tomorrow is tomorrow. Future cares have future cures… And we must mind today.
No one loves the messenger who brings bad news.Pin
No one loves the messenger who brings bad news.
Grief teaches the steadiest minds to waver.Pin
Grief teaches the steadiest minds to waver.
We have only a little time to please the living. But all eternity to love the dead.Pin
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.Pin
Our happiness depends on wisdom all the way.
Alas, how terrible is wisdom when it brings no profit to the man that's wise!Pin
Alas, how terrible is wisdom when it brings no profit to the man that’s wise!
Leave me to my own absurdity.Pin
Leave me to my own absurdity.
A city which belongs to just one man is no true city.Pin
A city which belongs to just one man is no true city.
Wisdom outweighs any wealth.Pin
Wisdom outweighs any wealth.
A short saying often contains much wisdom.Pin
A short saying often contains much wisdom.
Look and you will find it - what is unsought will go undetected.Pin
Look and you will find it – what is unsought will go undetected.
It is terrible to speak well and be wrong.Pin
It is terrible to speak well and be wrong.
In a just cause the weak will beat the strong.Pin
In a just cause the weak will beat the strong.
There is no success without hardship.Pin
There is no success without hardship.
Enemies' gifts are no gifts and do no good.Pin
Enemies’ gifts are no gifts and do no good.
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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.

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Also read:

Famous Sophocles Quotes on Life (FATE) - Gracious QuotesPin
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