Category: GREEK BLOG SERIES

GREEK BLOG #4: Wise Sayings By Famous Ancient Greeks

Compiled by Andrew Yiannakis, Ph.D., Research Professor, University of New Mexico

  1. Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) King of Macedon and conqueror of much of the ancient world

“I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion”

“In the end when it’s over, all that matters is what you’ve done”

“Remember, upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all”

2.  Diogenes (404-323 BC), founder of Cynic Philosophy

“Of what use is a philosopher who doesn’t hurt anybody’s feelings”?

“When I look upon seamen, men of science and philosophers, man is the wisest of all being; when I look upon priests and prophets nothing is as contemptible as man”

“He has the most who is most content with the least”

” The foundation of every State is the education of its youth”

“I don’t know whether gods exist, but they ought to”

3. Hypatia of Alexandria (355-415 AD). Greek mathematician, astronomer and philosopher. Died at the hands of the early Christians for refusing to accept Christianity

“Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all”

“Fables should be taught as fables , myths as myths, and miracles as poetic fantasies. To teach superstitions as truths is a most terrible thing. The child mind accepts and believes them, and only through great pain, and perhaps tragedy, can he be relieved of them in later years”

4. Democritus (460-370 BC), Philosopher and theoretician from Thrace

“The world is a stage and life is a journey. You come, you see, you leave”

5. Menander (342-292 BC), Greek poet and comedy writer. He is the author of over 100 works

“Honor old age because it carries with it much suffering” (paraphrased)

6. Pythagoras (580-500 BC), Famous Greek philosopher, geometrician and  mathematician. Established the foundations of astronomy

“Be silent unless you can say something that’s better than silence” (paraphrased)

“Rest satisfied with doing well and leave others to talk of you as they please”

“The oldest,  shortest words – “yes” and “no” – are those requiring the most thought”

“As long as man continues to be the ruthless destroyer of lower living beings, he will never know health or peace. For as long as men massacre animals, they will continue to kill each other” (paraphrased)

GREEK BLOG #3: Famous Sayings By Ancient Greek Philosophers

  1. Hippocrates (460-360 BC). Ancient Greek doctor and father of medicine

“anything exaggerated is contrary to nature”

“most importantly do no harm”

2. Socrates (470-399 BC) Athenian philosopher and critic

“No one becomes evil willingly”

“By all means get married. If you find a good wife you’ll be happy; if not you’ll become a philosopher”

3. Sophocles (496-406 BC) Dramatist and poet

“When disaster strikes more is bound to follow”

“Love cannot be conquered by warfare”

4.  Thucydides (460-397 BC), author of “The History of the Peloponnesian War” between Athens and Sparta

“Two things undermine the making of a correct decision: Haste and anger”

“The whole earth is a tomb to glorious men”

5. Demosthenes (384-322 BC) great orator

“Effort and hard work make everything possible”

“It is more difficult to hold than to acquire”

Compiled by Andrew Yiannakis, Ph.D., Research Professor,

University of New Mexico

GREEK BLOG #4: Quotes By Ancient Greek Philosophers, Historians & Scientists

 

Thucydides
Historian,  4th century BC

    “History is philosophy teaching by example”

Xenophon
Historian,  4th century BC

   “Excess of grief for the dead is madness; for it is an      injury to the living, and the dead know it not”

Democritus
Philosopher,  5th century BC

   “Nothing exists except atoms and empty space;  everything else is just opinion”

Aristotle
Philosopher,  4th century BC;  teacher
of Alexander The Great

“Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies”

Andrew Yannakis, Ph.D., Research Professor, University of New Mexico

GREEK BLOG #3: Quotes By Ancient Greek Philosophers, Historians & Scientists

Demosthenes
Orator, 4th century BC

“Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises”

Pericles
Statesman,  5th century BC

“Wait for the wisest of all counselors, time”

Plato
Philosopher,  5th century BC

“Man: A being in search of meaning”

Plutarch
Historian,  1st century BC

“I don’t need a friend who changes when I change and who nods when I nod; my shadow does that much better”

Andrew Yiannakis, Ph.D., Research Professor, University of New Mexico

 

GREEK BLOG #2: Quotes By Ancient Greek Philosophers, Historians & Scientists

GREEK BLOG #2: This blog includes: Permanence;  Great Enterprises;  Living Well;  Brilliant Men

Heraclitus
Philosopher,  4th century BC

    “There is nothing permanent except
change”

Demosthenes
Orator, 4th century BC

   “Small opportunities are often the
beginning of great enterprises”

Alexander The Great
Warrior-King,  4th century BC

     “I am indebted to my father for living,
but to my teacher for living well”

Thucydides
Historian,  4th century BC

     “It is frequently a misfortune to have
very brilliant men in charge of affairs.
They expect too much of ordinary
men”

Andrew Yiannakis, Ph.D.,  Research Professor, University of New Mexico

 

Quotes by Famous Ancient Greek Philosophers, Historians and Scientists

 

GREEK BLOG SERIES #1: Know Thyself; Moderation In All Things; I Know Nothing…; Get Married…

  • “Know Thyself” (gnothi seavton)

Ancient Greek aphorism “know thyself” or “gnothi seavton” (Greek: γνῶθι σεαυτὸν).

The 10th-century Byzantine encyclopedia,  the Suda,  recognized Chilon and Thales as the sources of the maxim “Know Thyself.” Other attributions include Socrates and Solon (among others)  but it appears the maxim may have originated in Ancient Egypt. However,  it may have been adopted by the Ancient Greeks because we know that the maxim was inscribed over the entrance to the forecourt of the oracle at Delphi (according to the historian Pausanias).

  • Socrates
    Philosopher,  5th century BC
    (Greek: Παν μέτρον άριστον) Pan metron  ariston.
    “Moderation in all things”
  • Socrates
    Philosopher,  5th century BC “One thing I know, that I know nothing.  This is the    source of my wisdom”
  • Socrates
    Philosopher,  5th century BC  “By all means, get married: If you find a good wife, you’ll be happy; if not, you’ll become a philosopher”

Andrew Yiannakis, Ph.D., Research Professor, Unversity of New Mexico