Quotes by famous people, credited to who said them. Your own quotes must not match any of these. More are added all the time. 1,161,747 quotes Who coined it · How we decide
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Said between 400 and 301 BC
“[Number is] the commanding and self-begotten container of the eternal duration of mundane concerns.”
Philolaus (470–390 BC) said by 390 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quoted by Aristotle, Metaphysics (ca. 350 BC) Tr. Thomas Taylor, The Philosophical and Mathematical Commentaries of Proclus on the First Book of Euclid's Elements (1792) Vol. 1, p. xix.
“Keep a watch also on the faults of the patients, which often make them lie about the taking of things prescribed. (XIV, Translated by W. H. S. Jones. LCL 148, Pages 296-297)”
Hippocrates (460–370 BC) said by 370 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A friend is one soul abiding in two bodies.”
Aristotle (384–322 BC) said by 322 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Ἄργος μὲν γάρ ἐστί σοι πατρίς.”
Isocrates (436–338 BC) said by 338 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The Spartans do not ask how many the enemies are but where they are.”
Agis II (470–398 BC) said by 398 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When asked where the boundaries of Sparta were, he replied, “On the points of our spears.”
Agesilaus II (444–360 BC) said by 360 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A madman is running towards the east, the man who chases after him also running towards the east. They are similar in running towards the east, but different in why they run towards the east.”
Hui Shi (370–310 BC) said by 310 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Chinese Culture (Chinese Cultural Research Institute, 1996), p. 35
“And Clitarchus and others say that in Carthage, during great prayers, they place a boy in the hands of Cronus (a bronze statue is set up, with outstretched hands, and under it a baking oven) and then put fire under; the boy shrunk by the fire seems to laugh.”
Cleitarchus (401–301 BC) said by 301 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“There is no greater evil one can suffer than to hate reasonable discourse.”
Socrates (470–399 BC) said by 399 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A general good at commanding troops is like one sitting in a leaking boat or lying under a burning roof. For there is no time for the wise to offer counsel nor the brave to be angry. All must come to grips with the enemy. And therefore it is said that of all the dangers in employing troops, timidity is the greatest and that the calamities which overtake an army arise from hesitation.”
Wu Qi (440–381 BC) said by 381 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Wuzi ('The Word of Wu') ch. 2, sec. 2. Translated by Samuel b. Griffith, Sun Tzu: The Art of War (New York: Oxford University Press, 1963) appx. 1, p. 159
“With wine and words of love and fervid vow He lulled me into bed. I closed my eyes, A sleepy, stupid innocent . . . And now I dedicate the spoils of my surprise: The silk that bound my breasts, my virgin zone, The cherished purity I could not keep . . . Goddess, remember we were all alone, And he was strong—and I was half asleep.”
Hedylus (300–301 BC) said by 301 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Louis Untermeyer, "To Venus", An Uninhibited Treasury of Erotic Poetry (1963)
“self-control contains honour as a chief constituent, and honour bravery.”
Thucydides (461–395 BC) said by 395 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Antisthenes ... was asked on one occasion what learning was the most necessary, and he replied, "To unlearn one's bad habits.”
Antisthenes (445–365 BC) said by 365 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The Cimmerians inhabit subterranean dwellings, which they call argillas.”
Ephorus (400–330 BC) said by 330 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quoted in Strabo, v, p. 375; reported in Jules Michelet, History of France, tr. G. H. Smith (New York, 1882), vol. i, p. 35
“δὶς παῖδες οἱ γέροντες.”
Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Clouds, line 1417
“τὰ πεπραγμένα αὐτὰ βοᾷ.”
Demosthenes (384–322 BC) said by 322 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: XIX.81 (H. P. Jones, 1901)
“Since the women were extraordinary in appearance, the men, who were completely overcome with their fond feeling (for them), the women treated violently or killed during sexual pleasure. We captured only two of these. Their complexion was snow-white, (and) like nymphs their hair spread over their backs.”
Callisthenes (360–327 BC) said by 327 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: W. Boer, Epistola Alexandri ad Aristotelem (Meisenheim am Glan, 1973), p. 57; translation: L. Gunderson, Alexander’s Letter to Aristotle about India (Meisenheim am Glan, 1980), p. 156. Dated by Gunderson to between 308 …
“I would like somebody to be hated more than I am.”
Dionysius I of Syracuse (431–367 BC) said by 367 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Clive Foss, The Tyrants: 2500 Years of Absolute Power and Corruption, London: Quercus Publishing, 2006, , p. 11
“Listen, then. I say justice is nothing other than what is advantageous for the stronger.”
Thrasymachus (459–399 BC) said by 399 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Virtue is the health of the soul.”
Aristo of Chios (300–301 BC) said by 301 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“[Aristotle] was the most eminent of all the pupils of Plato…. He seceded from Plato while he was still alive; so that they tell a story that [Plato] said, "Aristotle has kicked us off, just as chickens do their mother after they have been hatched.”
Plato (429–349 BC) said by 349 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“He once begged alms of a statue, and, when asked why he did so, replied, "To get practice in being refused.”
Diogenes of Sinope (400–323 BC) said by 323 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“That tho' a Man were admitted into Heaven to view the wonderful Fabrick of the World, and the Beauty of the stars, yet what would otherwise be Rapture and Extasie, would be but melancholy Amazement if he had not a Friend to communicate it to.”
Archytas (430–345 BC) said by 345 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Attributed to Archytus by Christiaan Huygens, The Celestial Worlds Discover'd (1722) Book 1, pt.4 and quoted by Arthur Beer, Vistas in Astronomy (1955) Vol.1 Cicero was reputed to have said the same thing.