Sophocles

“ἐν τῷ φρονεῖν γὰρ μηδὲν ἥδιστος βίος. In knowing nothing is the sweetest life.”

“ὦ παῖ, γένοιο πατρὸς εὐτυχέστερος, τὰ δ᾿ ἄλλ᾿ ὁμοῖος· καὶ γένοι᾿ ἂν οὐ κακός. Ah, son, may you prove luckier than your father, but in all else like him. Then you would not prove base.”

“χάρις χάριν γάρ ἐστιν ἡ τίκτουσ᾿ ἀεί· ὅτου δ᾿ ἀπορρεῖ μνῆστις εὖ πεπονθότος, οὐκ ἂν γένοιτ᾿ ἔθ᾿ οὗτος εὐγενὴς ἀνήρ. For kindness begets kindness evermore, But he from whose mind fades the memory Of benefits, noble is he no more.”

“τῆς ἀναγκαίας τύχης οὐκ ἔστιν οὐδὲν μεῖζον ἀνθρώποις κακόν. Of all human ills, greatest is fortune's wayward tyranny.”

“ἀλλ᾿ ἢ καλῶς ζῆν ἢ καλῶς τεθνηκέναι τὸν εὐγενῆ χρή. Nobly to live, or else nobly to die, Befits proud birth.”

“Line 293 (tr. R. C. Jebb, 1896) Woman, to women silence is the best ornament.”

“γύναι, γυναιξὶ κόσμον ἡ σιγὴ φέρει. Woman, silence graces woman.”

“τῶν γὰρ μεγάλων ψυχῶν ἱεὶς οὐκ ἂν ἁμάρτοι· κατὰ δ᾿ ἄν τις ἐμοῦ τοιαῦτα λέγων οὐκ ἂν πείθοι. πρὸς γὰρ τὸν ἔχονθ᾿ ὁ φθόνος ἕρπει. καίτοι σμικροὶ μεγάλων χωρὶς σφαλερὸν πύργου ῥῦμα πέλονται. Yea, point thine arrow at a noble spirit, and thou shalt not miss; but should a man speak such things against me, he would win no faith. 'Tis on the powerful that envy creeps. Yet the small without the great can ill be trusted to guard the walls.”

“ὡς ἡμέρα κλίνει τε κἀνάγει πάλιν ἅπαντα τἀνθρώπεια. For a day can humble all human beings, and a day can lift them up.”

“οὔκουν γέλως ἥδιστος εἰς ἐχθροὺς γελᾶν; And to mock at foes”