Quotes from 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.

Enemies' gifts are no gifts and do no good.

Look and you will find it - what is unsought will go undetected.

To live without evil belongs only to the gods.

Quick decisions are unsafe decisions.

Wisdom outweighs any wealth.

A wise doctor does not mutter incantations over a sore that needs the knife.

Wise thinkers prevail everywhere.

For those whose wit becomes the mother of villainy, those it educates to be evil in all things.

There is no success without hardship.

There is no witness so terrible and no accuser so powerful as conscience which dwells within us.

The oaths of a woman I inscribe on water.

Silence is an ornament for women.

There is an ancient saying among men that you cannot thoroughly understand the life of mortals before the man has died, then only can you call it good or bad.

If we are to keep our democracy, there must be one commandment: 'Thou shalt not ration justice.'

Do nothing secretly; for Time sees and hears all things, and discloses all.

Gentle time will heal our sorrows.

How sweet for those faring badly to forget their misfortunes even for a short time.

We must wait until the evening to see how splendid the day had been.

The happiest life is to be without thought

Better to die, and sleep The never-waking sleep, than linger on And dare to live when the soul's life is gone.

Even the bold will fly when they see Death drawing in close enough to end their life.

Rather throw away that which is dearest to you, your own life, than turn away a good friend.

The man from whom the joys of life have departed is living no more, but should be counted with the dead.