Solon famous quotes

He who has learned how to obey will know how to command.
-- Solon

#Leadership #Command

We can have justice whenever those who have not been injured by injustice are as outraged by it as those who have been.
-- Solon

#Justice #Injustice #Outraged

In giving advice seek to help, not to please, your friend.
-- Solon

#Life #Friendship #Giving

If all men were to bring their miseries together in one place, most would be glad to take each his own home again rather than take a portion out of the common stock.
-- Solon

#Gratitude #Home #Men

In all things let reason be your guide.
-- Solon

#Reason #Guides

A half truth is the worst of all lies,because it can be defended in partiality.
-- Solon

#Lying #Half #Truth Is

In all things that you do, consider the end.
-- Solon

#Inspirational #Ends

Learn to obey before you command.
-- Solon

#Military #Command

Laws are like spiders webs which, if anything small falls into them they ensnare it, but large things break through and escape.
-- Solon

#Fall #Law #Spiders

Seek to learn constantly while you live; do not wait in the faith that old age by itself will bring wisdom.
-- Solon

#Good Life #Waiting #Age

Laws are like spider's webs: If some poor weak creature comes up against them, it is caught; but a big one can break through and get away.
-- Solon

#Internet #Poor #Weak

Wealth breeds satiety, satiety outrage.
-- Solon

#Wealth #Outrage #Satiety

Often the wicked prosper, while the righteous starve; yet I would never exchange my state for theirs, my virtue for their gold. For mine endures, while riches change their owner every day.
-- Solon

#Gold #Wicked #Riches

If things are going well, religion and legislation are beneficial; if not, they are of no avail.
-- Solon

#Religion #Legislation #Wells

Say nothing but good of the dead.
-- Solon

#Death

Men keep agreements when it is to the advantage of neither to break them.
-- Solon

#Men #Agreement #Break

No fool can be silent at a feast.
-- Solon

#Fool #Silent

For often evil men are rich, and good men poor; But we will not exchange with them Our virtue for their wealth since one abides always, While riches change their owners every day.
-- Solon

#Integrity #Men #Evil

Angels are winged with God's power.
-- Solon

#Angel

True blessedness consisteth in a good life and a happy death.
-- Solon

#Good Life #Blessedness

Poets tell many lies.
-- Solon

#Lying #Poet

Satiety comes of riches and contumaciousness of satiety.
-- Solon

#Riches #Satiety

He that will sell his fame will also sell the public interest.
-- Solon

#Fame #Interest

Chide a friend in private and praise him in public.
-- Solon

#Friends #Praise

Honors achieved far exceed those that are created.
-- Solon

#Honor

If through your vices you afflicted are, Lay not the blame of your distress on God; You made your rulers mighty, gave them guards, So now you groan 'neath slavery's heavy rod.
-- Solon

#Government #Slavery #Vices

Justice, even if slow, is sure.
-- Solon

#Justice

Rich people without wisdom and learning are but sheep with golden fleeces.
-- Solon

#Wisdom #Sheep #People

Let no man be called happy before his death. Till then, he is not happy, only lucky.
-- Solon

#Happiness #Men #Lucky

Reprove your friend privately, commend him publicly.
-- Solon

#Friendship

Put more trust in nobility of character than in an oath.
-- Solon

#Character #Nobility #Oath

Rule, after you have first learned to submit to rule.
-- Solon

#Good Life #Firsts #Submit

Wealth I desire to have; but wrongfully to get it, I do not wish.
-- Solon

#Good Life #Wish #Desire

I grow old, ever learning many things.
-- Solon

#Aging #Grows

I grow old learning something new every day.
-- Solon

#Something New #Grows

Each day grow older, and learn something new;
-- Solon

#Each Day #Something New #Grows

Call no man happy until he is dead.
-- Solon

#Men

Speech is the mirror of action.
-- Solon

#Mirrors #Speech #Action

No more good must be attempted than the nation can bear
-- Solon

#Bears

Society is well governed when its people obey the magistrates, and the magistrates obey the law.
-- Solon

#Law #People #Wells

No man is happy; he is at best fortunate.
-- Solon

#Happiness #Men

What thou seest, speak of with caution.
-- Solon

#Speak #Secrecy #Caution

Know thyself. [Lat., Ne quis nimis. (From the Greek)]
-- Solon

#Knowledge #Greek #Know Thyself

Pure chastity is beauty to our souls, grace to our bodies, and peace to our desires.
-- Solon

#Grace #Soul #Desire

Men keep their agreements when it is an advantage to both parties not to break them; and I shall so frame my laws that it will be evident to the Athenians that it will be for their interest to observe them.
-- Solon

#Party #Men #Law

As the Deity has given us Greeks all other blessings in moderation, so our moderation gives us a kind of wisdom which is timid, in all likelihood, and fit for common people, not one which is kingly and splendid. This wisdom, such as it is, observing that human life is ever subject to all sorts of vicissitudes, forbids us to be puffed up by the good things we have, or to admire a man's felicity while there is still time for it to change.
-- Solon

#Blessing #Men #Giving

That city in which those who are not wronged, no less than those who are wronged, exert themselves to punish the wrongdoers.
-- Solon

#Cities #Wronged

Consider your honour, as a gentleman, of more weight than an oath.
-- Solon

#Gentleman #Weight #Oath

An unlucky rich man is more capable of satisfying his desires and of riding out disaster when it strikes, but a lucky man is better off than him...He is the one who deserves to be described as happy. But until he is dead, you had better refrain from calling him happy, and just call him fortunate.
-- Solon

#Men #Desire #Calling

As I grow older, I constantly learn more.
-- Solon

#Grows

Men keep their engagements when it is an advantage to both parties not to break them.
-- Solon

#Party #Men #Law

Watch well each separate citizen, Lest having in his heart of hearts A secret spear, one still may come Saluting you with cheerful face, And utter with a double tongue The feigned good wishes of his wary mind.
-- Solon

#Heart #Secret #Mind