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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

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

Advice Friendship Please Seek
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

Advantage Agreement Evidence Frame Interest Man Myself Observation Party
Pure chastity is beauty to our souls, grace to our bodies, and peace to our desires.
SOLON

Chastity Desire Grace Ourselves Peace Purity Soul
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

Blame God Guard Rule Slave Vice Yourself
The ideal state is that in which an injury done to the least of its citizens is an injury done to all.
SOLON

Citizenship Ideal Injury State
To make an empire durable, the magistrates must obey the laws and the people the magistrates.
SOLON

Empire Law Obedience People
Men keep their engagements when it is an advantage to both parties not to break them.
SOLON

Engagement Man Myself Party Relationship
Say nothing but good of the dead.
SOLON

Death Goodness One Liner
Justice, even if slow, is sure.
SOLON

Justice One Liner Slow
Rule, after you have first learned to submit to rule.
SOLON

Learning Rule Submit
Men keep agreements when it is to the advantage of neither to break them.
SOLON

Advantage Agreement Break
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

Catch Law Oneself Poor Spider Trap Weakness
He who has learned how to obey will know how to command.
SOLON

Command Learning Obedience
Rich people without wisdom and learning are but sheep with golden fleeces.
SOLON

Gold People Rich Sheep Wisdom
Chide a friend in private and praise him in public.
SOLON

Appreciation Friendship Himself Praise Public
True blessedness consisteth in a good life and a happy death.
SOLON

Blessing Death Goodness Life True

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.

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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.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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