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100 Famous Sophocles Quotes On Life

Famous As: Ancient Greek Tragedian
Born On: 497 BC
Died On: 406 BC
Born In: Colonus, Athens, Greece
Died At Age: 91
Sophocles was an ancient Greek playwright, who lived from around 497 BC to 405 BC. He is one of the ancient Greek tragedians whose work has outlasted. Sophocles was born in a prosperous family in Attica and showed his talent as a playwright from an early age, before becoming the most famous playwright in Athens. Sophocles lived well past the age of 90 and during his illustrious career; he is known to have produced a total of around 120 plays. However, many of those have been lost, but among the ones which survived, the most famous ones are ‘Oedipus at Colonus’, ‘ Ajax’, ‘Electra’, ‘The Women of Trachis’ and others. Those plays are still performed in different parts of the world and are counted among the classic plays in the world of dramatics. In addition to that, Sophocles led the Greek literary scene throughout his life and had won a total of 18 competitions throughout his lifetime, having participated in 30 of them. Here is a collection of quotes and sayings excerpted from his famous plays, work, thoughts and life that reveal his intellect as an outstanding playwright. Read on some of the selected quotes and thoughts by Sophocles.
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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.

Sophocles
Fortune is not on the side of the faint-hearted.

Fortune is not on the side of the faint-hearted.

Sophocles
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.

Sophocles
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.

Sophocles
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.

Sophocles
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.

Sophocles
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

Sophocles
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.

Sophocles
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.

Sophocles
There's nothing in the world so demoralizing as money.

There's nothing in the world so demoralizing as money.

Sophocles
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.

Sophocles
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.

Sophocles
You can kill a man but you cant kill a idea.

You can kill a man but you cant kill a idea.

Sophocles
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.

Sophocles
Time, which sees all things, has found you out.

Time, which sees all things, has found you out.

Sophocles
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.

Sophocles
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.

Sophocles
Grief teaches the steadiest minds to waver.

Grief teaches the steadiest minds to waver.

Sophocles
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.

Sophocles
Alas, how terrible is wisdom
when it brings no profit to the man that's wise!
This I knew well, but had forgotten it,
else I would not have come here.

Alas, how terrible is wisdom when it brings no profit to the man that's wise! This I knew well, but had forgotten it, else I would not have come here.

Sophocles
Death is not the worst thing; rather, when one who craves death cannot attain even that wish.

Death is not the worst thing; rather, when one who craves death cannot attain even that wish.

Sophocles
When I have tried and failed, I shall have failed.

When I have tried and failed, I shall have failed.

Sophocles
No one loves the messenger who brings bad news.

No one loves the messenger who brings bad news.

Sophocles
Trust dies but mistrust blossoms.

Trust dies but mistrust blossoms.

Sophocles
The truth is what I cherish and that's my strength

The truth is what I cherish and that's my strength

Sophocles
It's terrible when the one who does the judging judges things all wrong.

It's terrible when the one who does the judging judges things all wrong.

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

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

Sophocles
The happiest life is to be without thought

The happiest life is to be without thought

Sophocles
The tyrant is a child of Pride
Who drinks from his sickening cup 
Recklessness and vanity,
Until from his high crest headlong
He plummets to the dust of hope.

The tyrant is a child of Pride Who drinks from his sickening cup Recklessness and vanity, Until from his high crest headlong He plummets to the dust of hope.

Sophocles
To Never Have been born may be the greatest boon of all

To Never Have been born may be the greatest boon of all

Sophocles