A collection of quotes and thoughts by Pericles on politics, confession, happy, joy, music, art, freedom, bravery, courage, grief, sadness, hero and Athens.

11 Thought-Provoking Quotes & Sayings By Pericles

Quick Facts

Listed In

Leaders

Famous As

First Citizen of Democratic Athens

Born On

494 BC

Died On

429 BC

Born In

Athens

Died At Age

Pericles was an influential Greek Statesman during the 460-429 B.C. Known to have made some major reforms in the ‘Athenian Constitution’, he was born in an aristocratic family and led a very luxurious life during his early days. He was interested in music and received a special education from some of the best musicians. At the age of 17, he inherited a massive fortune which he spent on his artistic ventures and established a reputation as a patron of arts. He further was interested in politics and joined the assembly where he supported reforms in the ‘Athenian Constitution’. He soon gained a reputation for his blunt nature and people started following him inside the assembly. He organized a popular vote inside the assembly which helped in exiling the then Athenian leader. His thoughts, writings, work and measures that he took are believed to be the beginning of democracy and Pericles is seen to be one of the pioneers of democracy. He further led Athens into development and also fought courageously in a couple of battles. We have scanned his thoughts and work to collect some of the most thought-provoking quotes attributed to him. Here are few quotable quotations and sayings by Pericles.

Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you.

- Pericles

What you leave behind is not what is engraved on stone momuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.

- Pericles

Those who can truly be accounted brave are those who best know the meaning of what is sweet in life and what is terrible, and then go out, undeterred, to meet what is to come.
Life

- Pericles

Wait for that wisest of all counselores, Time.
Time

- Pericles

[F]or grief is felt not so much for the want of what we have never known, as for the loss of that to which we have been long accustomed.
Never

- Pericles

Freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it.

- Pericles

What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.

- Pericles

The whole earth is the tomb of heroic men and their story is not given only on stone over their clay but abides everywhere without visible symbol woven into the stuff of other mens lives.

- Pericles