Pindar Quotes

Pindar shares solemn, philosophical musings on truth, war, and human humility.

27 quotes

1. Here profits not To tell the whole truth with clear face unveiled. Often is man's best wisdom to be silent.

2. For words Live longer down the years than deeds.

3. Creatures of a day! What is a man? What is he not? A dream of a shadow Is our mortal being. But when there comes to men A gleam of splendour given of Heaven, Then rests on them a light of glory And blessed are their days.

4. War is sweet to those who have no experience of it, but the experienced man trembles exceedingly at heart on its approach.

5. A good deed hidden in silence dies.

6. Time is the best preserver of righteous men.

7. Days to come will prove the surest witness.

8. But if a man shall hope in aught he does To escape the eyes of god, he makes an error.

9. Inborn of nature's wisdom The poet's truth.

10. Mankind is a dream of a shadow.

11. War is sweet for those who haven't experienced it.

12. Learn what you are and be such.

13. May God grant me love for that which has splendor; but in this time of my life let me strive for attainable things.

14. Envy, the attendant of the empty mind.

15. He is gifted with genius who knoweth much by natural inspiration.

16. Water is the best of all things.

17. Unsung, the noblest deed will die.

18. Words have a longer life than deeds.

19. Various are the uses of friends, beyond all else in difficulty, but joy also looks for trust that is clear in the eyes.

20. The race of gods and men is one, and from one mother we both draw our breath. Yet all the difference in our power holds us apart, so that man is nothing, but the brazen floor of heaven is eternally unshakable.

21. O my soul, do not aspire to immortal life, but exhaust the limits of the possible.

22. The present will not long endure.

23. Every noble deed dieth, if suppressed in silence.

24. To bear lightly the neck's yoke brings strength; but kicking against the goads is the way of failure.

25. I will be small in small things, great among great.

26. Though God alone never tastes woe, Yet that man is happy, and poets sing of him, Who conquers with hand or swift foot And wins the greatest of prizes By steadfastness and strength.

27. In all things rest is sweet; there is sur feit even in honey, even in Aphrodite s lovely flowers.