Top 500 Sophocles Quotes (2025 Update)
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301. “In time you will know this well: For time, and time alone, will show the just man, though scoundrels are discovered in a day.”

— Sophocles

302. “Is anyone in all the world safe from unhappiness?”

— Sophocles

303. “This is Electra. Brilliant no more.”

— Sophocles

304. “It is always fair sailing, when you escape evil.”

— Sophocles

305. “Of all human ills, greatest is fortune’s wayward tyranny.”

— Sophocles

306. “Sleep, ignorant of pain, sleep, ignorant of grief, may you come to us blowing softly, kindly, kindly come king.”

— Sophocles

307. “Rather throw away that which is dearest to you, your own life, than turn away a good friend.”

— Sophocles

308. “For to cast away a virtuous friend, I call as bad as to cast away one’s own life, which one loves best.”

— Sophocles

309. “Ah, race of mortal men, How as a thing of nought I count ye, though ye live; For who is there of men That more of blessing knows, Than just a little while To seem to prosper well, And, having seemed, to fall?”

— Sophocles

310. “You chose to live, I chose to die.”

— Sophocles

311. “And if my present deeds are foolish in thy sight, it may be that a foolish judge arraigns my folly.”

— Sophocles

312. “You see how when rivers are swollen in winter those trees that yield to the flood retain their branches, but those that offer resistance perish, trunk and all.”

— Sophocles

313. “If you have done terrible things, you must endure terrible things; for thus the sacred light of injustice shines bright.”

— Sophocles

314. “Those griefs smart most which are seen to be of our own choice.”

— Sophocles

315. “And remember that the captor is now the captive; the hunter is in the snare. What was won by stealth will not be kept.”

— Sophocles

316. “Oh child, may you be happier than your father, but in all other respects alike. And then you would not be bad.”

— Sophocles

317. “By dread things I am compelled. I know that. I see the trap closing. I know what I am. But while life is in me I will not stop this violence. No. Oh my friends who is there to comfort me? Who understands? Leave me be, let me go, do not soothe me. This is a knot no one can untie. There will be no rest, there is no retrieval. No number exists for griefs like these.”

— Sophocles

318. “What men have seen they know; But what shall come hereafter No man before the event can see, Nor what end waits for him.”

— Sophocles

319. “For if any man thinks that he is alone is wise – that in speech, or in mind, he hath no peer – such a soul, when laid open, is ever found empty.”

— Sophocles

320. “For the dead there are no more toils.”

— Sophocles

321. “But when a god sends harm, no man can sidestep it, no matter how strong he may be.”

— Sophocles

322. “Let every man in mankind’s frailtyConsider his last day; and let nonePresume on his good fortune until he findLife, at his death, a memory without pain.”

— Sophocles

323. “I cannot love a friend whose love is words.”

— Sophocles

324. “The good befriend themselves.”

— Sophocles

325. “There are times when even justice brings harm with it.”

— Sophocles

326. “Reverence does not die with mortals, nor does it perish whether they live or die.”

— Sophocles

327. “For this I see, that we, all we that live, Are but vain shadows, unsubstantial dreams.”

— Sophocles

328. “I would rather miss the mark acting well than win the day acting basely.”

— Sophocles

329. “Whom Jupiter would destroy he first drives mad.”

— Sophocles

330. “It is not righteousness to outrage A brave man dead, not even though you hate him.”

— Sophocles

331. “War loves to seek its victims in the young.”

— Sophocles

332. “Alas for the seed of man.”

— Sophocles

333. “It is the task of a good man to help those in misfortune.”

— Sophocles

334. “To me no profitable speech sounds ill.”

— Sophocles

335. “Wealth makes an ugly person beautiful to look on and an incoherent speech eloquent; and wealth alone can enjoy pleasure even in sickness and can conceal its miseries.”

— Sophocles

336. “Not even old age knows how to love death.”

— Sophocles

337. “Surely there never was so evil a thing as money, which maketh cities into ruinous heaps, and banisheth men from their houses, and turneth their thoughts from good unto evil.”

— Sophocles

338. “Think again, Electra. Don’t say anymore. Don’t you see what you’re doing? You make your own pain. Why keep wounding yourself? With so much evil stored up in that cold dark soul of yours you breed enemies everywhere you touch.”

— Sophocles

339. “But whoever gives birth to useless children, what would you say of him except that he has bred sorrows for himself, and furnishes laughter for his enemies.”

— Sophocles

340. “Each one of us must live the life God gives him; it cannot be shirked.”

— Sophocles

341. “Let men be wise by instinct if they can, but when this fails be wise by good advice.”

— Sophocles

342. “Evil gains work their punishment.”

— Sophocles

343. “All is disgust when one leaves his own nature and does things that misfit it.”

— Sophocles

344. “A wise player ought to accept his throws and score them, not bewail his luck.”

— Sophocles

345. “No treaty is ever an impediment to a cheat.”

— Sophocles

346. “Friendship is a tension. It makes delicate demands.”

— Sophocles

347. “Count no mortal fortunate till he has departed this life free from pain.”

— Sophocles

348. “God will not punish the man Who makes return for an injury.”

— Sophocles

349. “A fearful man is always hearing things.”

— Sophocles

350. “Orestes beloved. as you die you destroy me. You have torn away the part of my mind where hope was .”

— Sophocles