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Speech is the mirror of action.

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

Citizenship Heart Mindset Oneself Secret Separate
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

exchange Man Ourselves Poor Rich Virtue
Many evil men are rich, and good men poor, but we shall not exchange with them our excellence for riches.
SOLON

Evil Excellence exchange Man Rich
Learn to obey before you command.
SOLON

Command Learning Obedience Yourself
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
I grow old, ever learning many things.
SOLON

Growth Learning Old
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
Rich people without wisdom and learning are but sheep with golden fleeces.
SOLON

Gold People Rich Sheep Wisdom
We can have justice whenever those who have not been injured by injustice are as outraged by it as those who have been.
SOLON

Angry Injury Justice
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

Home Man Misery Oneself Place Togetherness
Poets tell many lies.
SOLON

Lying One Liner Poet
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

Confusion Ideal Law Simplicity State Uncertain
A half truth is the worst of all lies, because it can be defended in partiality.
SOLON

Defend Lying Partial Truth Worst
Call no man happy until he is dead.
SOLON

Call Death Happiness
Wealth I desire to have; but wrongfully to get it, I do not wish.
SOLON

Desire Myself Wealth Wrong

Speech is the mirror of action.

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Speech is the mirror of action.

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