Solon Quotes & Sayings

For often evil men are rich, and good men poor; But we will not exchange with them Our virtue for their wealth since one abides always, While riches change their owners every day. — Solon

Learn to obey before you command. — Solon

True blessedness consisteth in a good life and a happy death. — Solon

Put more trust in nobility of character than in an oath. — Solon

The ideal state is that in which an injury done to the least of its citizens is an injury done to all. — Solon

No more good must be attempted than the nation can bear — Solon

Call no man happy before he dies, he is at best but fortunate. — Solon

In giving advice seek to help, not to please, your friend. — Solon

Many evil men are rich, and good men poor, but we shall not exchange with them our excellence for riches. — Solon

He that will sell his fame will also sell the public interest. — Solon

Men keep their agreements when it is an advantage to both parties not to break them; and I shall so frame my laws that it will be evident to the Athenians that it will be for their interest to observe them. — Solon

Rich people without wisdom and learning are but sheep with golden fleeces. — Solon

Know thyself.
[Lat., Ne quis nimis. (From the Greek)] — Solon

That city in which those who are not wronged, no less than those who are wronged, exert themselves to punish the wrongdoers. — Solon

Pure chastity is beauty to our souls, grace to our bodies, and peace to our desires. — Solon

No man is happy; he is at best fortunate. — Solon

Laws are like spider's webs: If some poor weak creature comes up against them, it is caught; but a big one can break through and get away. — Solon

We can have justice whenever those who have not been injured
by injustice are as outraged by it as those who have been. — Solon

No one can be said to be happy until he is dead. — Solon

Wealth I desire to have; but wrongfully to get it, I do not wish. — Solon

Men keep their engagements when it is an advantage to both parties not to break them. — Solon

In all things let reason be your guide. — Solon

Laws are like spiders webs which, if anything small falls into them they ensnare it, but large things break through and escape. — Solon

If things are going well, religion and legislation are beneficial; if not, they are of no avail. — Solon

In the ideal State laws are few and simple, because they have been derived from certainties. In the corrupt State laws are many and confused, because they have been derived from uncertainties. — Solon

In all things that you do, consider the end. — Solon

No fool can be silent at a feast. — Solon

Let no man be called happy before his death. Till then, he is not happy, only lucky. — Solon

Honors achieved far exceed those that are created. — Solon

Angels are winged with God's power. — Solon

I grow old learning something new every day. — Solon

An unlucky rich man is more capable of satisfying his desires and of riding out disaster when it strikes, but a lucky man is better off than him ... He is the one who deserves to be described as happy. But until he is dead, you had better refrain from calling him happy, and just call him fortunate. — Solon

Society is well governed when its people obey the magistrates, and the magistrates obey the law. — Solon

He who has learned how to obey will know how to command. — Solon

Rule, after you have first learned to submit to rule. — Solon

Men keep agreements when it is to the advantage of neither to break them. — Solon

If through your vices you afflicted are, Lay not the blame of your distress on God; You made your rulers mighty, gave them guards, So now you groan 'neath slavery's heavy rod. — Solon

[The answer of Solon to the question 'Which is the most perfect popular government?']
That where the least injury done to the meanest individual, is considered as an insult on the whole constitution. — Solon

Power proves the man". — Solon

Seek to learn constantly while you live; do not wait in the faith that old age by itself will bring wisdom. — Solon

A half truth is the worst of all lies,because it can be defended in partiality. — Solon

What thou seest, speak of with caution. — Solon

I grow old, ever learning many things. — Solon

Reprove thy friend privately: commend him publicly. — Solon

As the Deity has given us Greeks all other blessings in moderation, so our moderation gives us a kind of wisdom which is timid, in all likelihood, and fit for common people, not one which is kingly and splendid. This wisdom, such as it is, observing that human life is ever subject to all sorts of vicissitudes, forbids us to be puffed up by the good things we have, or to admire a man's felicity while there is still time for it to change. — Solon

Say nothing but good of the dead. — Solon

Satiety comes of riches and contumaciousness of satiety. — Solon

Watch well each separate citizen, Lest having in his heart of hearts A secret spear, one still may come Saluting you with cheerful face, And utter with a double tongue The feigned good wishes of his wary mind. — Solon

Chide a friend in private and praise him in public. — Solon

Call no man happy until he is dead. — Solon

If all men were to bring their miseries together in one place, most would be glad to take each his own home again rather than take a portion out of the common stock. — Solon

Call no man happy until he is dead, but only lucky. — Solon

If all our misfortunes were laid in one common heap, whence every one must take an equal portion, most people would be contented to take their own and depart. — Solon

Consider your honour, as a gentleman, of more weight than an oath. — Solon

count no man happy until he be dead. — Solon

To make an empire durable, the magistrates must obey the laws and the people the magistrates. — Solon

Speech is the mirror of action. — Solon

Often the wicked prosper, while the righteous starve; yet I would never exchange my state for theirs, my virtue for their gold. For mine endures, while riches change their owner every day. — Solon