Sophocles

Sophocles

49 quotes

As a 5th century BC Athenian tragic playwright, Sophocles brought a distinctive perspective that shines through in every quotation. The range of their thinking — from Wisdom to Age — speaks to an intellectual restlessness that shows in every quote. Our collection includes 58 quotes from Sophocles, touching on Wisdom, Age, Men, Money, and Happiness — a testament to just how much they had to say. Perhaps their most recognizable line: "No lie ever reaches old age."

“Reason is God's crowning gift to man.”

— Sophocles

God

All Quotes by Sophocles

“Our happiness depends on wisdom all the way.”

— Sophocles

Happiness

“Men of ill judgment ignore the good that lies within their hands, till they have lost it.”

— Sophocles

Good

“Time alone reveals the just man but you might discern a bad man in a single day.”

— Sophocles

Alone

“Not to be born is, past all prizing, best.”

— Sophocles

Best

“God's dice always have a lucky roll.”

— Sophocles

God

“All is disgust when a man leaves his own nature and does what is unfit.”

— Sophocles

Nature

“Children are the anchors of a mother's life.”

— Sophocles

Life

“For death is not the worst, but when one wants to die and is not able even to have that.”

— Sophocles

Death

“Not even old age knows how to love death.”

— Sophocles

Age

“To him who is in fear everything rustles.”

— Sophocles

Fear

“You should not consider a man's age but his acts.”

— Sophocles

Age

“The keenest sorrow is to recognize ourselves as the sole cause of all our adversities.”

— Sophocles

Sad

“Trust dies but mistrust blossoms.”

— Sophocles

Trust

“No speech can stain what is noble by nature.”

— Sophocles

Nature

“Ignorant men don't know what good they hold in their hands until they've flung it away.”

— Sophocles

Good

“Best to live lightly, unthinkingly.”

— Sophocles

Best

“Old age and the passage of time teach all things.”

— Sophocles

Age

“Whoever neglects the arts when he is young has lost the past and is dead to the future.”

— Sophocles

Future

“Reason is God's crowning gift to man.”

— Sophocles

God

“Much wisdom often goes with fewest words.”

— Sophocles

Wisdom