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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

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

Action Punishment Wrong
No man is happy; he is at best fortunate.
SOLON

Best Fortunate Happiness Himself Man
Rule, after you have first learned to submit to rule.
SOLON

Learning Rule Submit
What thou seest, speak of with caution.
SOLON

Action Seek Talk Yourself
Justice, even if slow, is sure.
SOLON

Justice One Liner Slow
Put more trust in nobility of character than in an oath.
SOLON

Character Noble Promise Trust
Laws are like spiders webs which, if anything small falls into them they ensnare it, but large things break through and escape.
SOLON

Break Escape Law Small Spider
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

Change Day Prospect Right Starve Virtue Wicket
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
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
Let no man be called happy before his death. Till then, he is not happy, only lucky.
SOLON

Call Death Happiness Himself
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
Men keep their engagements when it is an advantage to both parties not to break them.
SOLON

Engagement Man Myself Party Relationship
I grow old learning something new every day.
SOLON

Day Growth Old
As I grow older, I constantly learn more.
SOLON

Growth Learning Myself Old

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.

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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.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More Solon Quotes