- When good men die their goodness does not perish,
- But lives though they are gone. As for the bad,
- All that was theirs dies and is buried with them.
EURIPIDES, Temenidæ (fragment)
Hate is a bottomless cup; I will pour and pour.
Even amid bacchic celebrations, the woman who is truly virtuous will not be corrupted.
Moderation, the noblest gift of Heaven.
Ignorance of one's misfortunes is clear gain.
EURIPIDES, Antiope (fragment)
What greater grief than the loss of one's native land.
Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish.
- Reasonable words make reasonable arguments
- and I could believe them but truth lies in deeds.
Silver and gold are not the only coin; virtue too passes current all over the world.
EURIPIDES, Œdipus (fragment)
I hold that mortal foolish who strives against the stress of necessity.
EURIPIDES, Hercules Furens
There is one thing alone that stands the brunt of life throughout its course: a quiet conscience.
Cowards do not count in battle; they are there, but not in it.
EURIPIDES, Meleager (fragment)
Whoso neglects learning in his youth, loses the past and is dead for the future.
EURIPIDES, Phrixus (fragment)
- There is no bitterness to be compared
- With that between two people who once loved.
To persevere, trusting in what hopes he has, is courage in a man. The coward despairs.
EURIPIDES, The Complete Greek Tragedies
Events will take their course, it is no good being angry at them; he is happiest who wisely turns them to the best account.
EURIPIDES, Bellerophon (fragment)
- To me, fame is the important thing.
- I'd give up all I owned for it.
- What good is a voice like Orpheus'
- If no one knows it belongs to you?
The brash unbridled tongue, the lawless folly of fools, will end in pain. But the life of wise content is blest with quietness, escapes the storm and keeps its house secure.
'Twas but my tongue, 'twas not my soul that swore.
When a good man is hurt, all who would be called good must suffer with him.
- I think,
- Some shrewd man first, a man in judgment wise,
- Found for mortals the fear of gods,
- Thereby to frighten the wicked should they
- Even act or speak or scheme in secret.
EURIPIDES, Sisyphus (fragment)
- You women are all the same, if bed's all right,
- You think everything else can go to the wind.
- But if there's any infringement of your bed-rights,
- Then fair is foul and all hell's let loose.
- When one with honeyed words but evil mind
- Persuades the mob, great woes befall the state.
I sacrifice to no god save myself And to my belly, greatest of deities.
- The wisest men follow their own direction
- And listen to no prophet guiding them.
- None but the fools believe in oracles,
- Forsaking their own judgment.
EURIPIDES, The Complete Greek Tragedies
A woman should be good for everything at home, but abroad good for nothing.
EURIPIDES, Meleager (fragment)
Slight not what 's near through aiming at what's far.
Sweet is the remembrance of troubles when you are in safety.
Every man is like the company he is wont to keep.
EURIPIDES, fragment, Phoemissae
Youth holds no society with grief.
EURIPIDES, attributed, Day's Collacon
The man who melts With social sympathy, though not allied,
Is of more worth than a thousand kinsmen.
EURIPIDES, Orestes
When God is contriving misfortunes for man, He first deprives him of his reason.
EURIPIDES, attributed, Day's Collacon
Light be the earth upon you, lightly rest.
EURIPIDES, Alcestis
Poverty possesses this disease: through want, it teaches a man evil.
EURIPIDES, attributed, Day's Collacon
The man who glories in his luck may be overthrown by destiny.
EURIPIDES, The Suppliant Women
Opinion! O opinion! How many men of slightest worth hast thou uplifted high in life's proud ranks?
EURIPIDES, attributed, Day's Collacon
Woman is prone by nature to jealousy, and brooks not a rival in the nuptial bed.
EURIPIDES, attributed, Day's Collacon
It is said that gifts persuade even the gods.
EURIPIDES, Medea
Glory, O glory! thou hast uplifted high in life countless mortals who were nought; those I deem to be happy who have acquired glory truthfully; but those who have it falsely I consider to have it not; it is the mere wantonness of fortune that has given it to them.
EURIPIDES, attributed, Day's Collacon
To every man, even though he be a slave, the light of heaven is sweet.
EURIPIDES, attributed, Day's Collacon
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