Sophocles
Sophocles (495 - 406 BC) was a Greek dramatic and tragic poet, born at Colonos, a suburb of Athens. He is considered as one of the three greatest dramatists of classical antiquity along with the two others — Aeschylus and Euripides. He was a musical talent, and when only 16 years of age, he was selected to lead the choir that sang the song of triumph over the victory of Salamis. His first appearance as a dramatist was in 488 BC, when he had Aeschylus as his rival and won the prize, though he was, seven years afterwards, defeated by Euripides, but retrieved the defeat the year following by the production of his "Antigone." That same year one of the 10 strategi (or generals) and he accompanied Pericles in his war against the aristocrats of Samos.He wrote a number of dramas, over 100 it is said, but only 7 survive, and these in probable order are "Ajax," "Antigone," "Electra," "Oedipus Tyrannus," "Trachineæ," "Oedipus Coloneus," and "Philoctetes." Obviously, all his subjects were drawn from Greek legends, and they are all alike remarkable for the intense humanity and sublime passion that inspires them and the humane and the high and holy resolves they stir up.
Wisdom & Quotes
- Nobody loves life like him who is growing old.
- Nobody likes the bringer of bad news.
- Grief teaches the steadiest minds to waver.
- The greatest griefs are those we cause ourselves.
- Our happiness depends on wisdom all the way.
- There are times when even justice brings harm with it.
- If they are just, they are better than clever.
- One must learn by doing the thing; though you think you know it. You have no certainty until you try.
- One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: that word is love.
- For money you would sell your soul.
- There is nothing in the world so demoralizing as money.
- Reason is god's crowning gift to man.
- I have been a stranger in a strange land.
- Time eases all things.
- Gentle time will heal our sorrows.
- How dreadful knowledge of the truth can be when there's no help in truth.
- Wisdom outweighs any wealth.
- By now you will have discovered that women, too, can be militant.
- Wonders are many, and none is more wonderful than man.
Empedocles