A human being is only breath and shadow.
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Foolishness is indeed the sister of wickedness.
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If my body is enslaved, still my mind is free.
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Ignorant men don't know what good they hold in their hands until they've flung it away.
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Wisdom is the supreme part of happiness.
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A day lays low and lifts up again all human things.
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Men of ill judgment ignore the good that lies within their hands, till they have lost it.
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It is best to live however one can be.
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Trust dies but mistrust blossoms.
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Bear up, my child, bear up; Zeus who oversees and directs all things is still mighty in heaven.
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I see that all of us who live are nothing but images or insubstantial shadow.
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I see the state of all of us who live, nothing more than phantoms or a weightless shadow.
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Whoever lives among many evils just as I, how can dying not be a source of gain?
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Our happiness depends on wisdom all the way.
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As many as are involved in misery of their own choosing, such as you, for them there is no forgiveness nor pity.
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Not even old age knows how to love death.
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Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.
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In a just cause the weak will beat the strong.
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It was my care to make my life illustrious not by words more than by deeds.
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It is terrible to speak well and be wrong.
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For the wretched one night is like a thousand; for someone faring well death is just one more night.
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For money, you would sell your soul.
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To be doing good deeds is man's most glorious task.
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Much speech is one thing, well-timed speech is another.
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For death is not the worst, but when one wants to die and is not able even to have that.
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In particular I may mention Sophocles the poet, who was once asked in my presence, How do you feel about love, Sophocles? are you still capable of it? to which he replied, Hush! if you please: to my great delight I have escaped from it, and feel as if I had escaped from a frantic and savage master. I thought then, as I do now, that he spoke wisely. For unquestionably old age brings us profound repose and freedom from this and other passions.
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Money is the worst currency that ever grew among mankind. This sacks cities, this drives men from their homes, this teaches and corrupts the worthiest minds to turn base deeds.
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Man is not constituted to take pleasure in the same things always.
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Each say following another, either hastening or putting off our death—what pleasure does it bring? I count that man worthless who is cheered...
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No speech can stain what is noble by nature.
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