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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

Chide a friend in private and praise him in public.
SOLON

Appreciation Friendship Himself Praise Public
In giving advice seek to help, not to please, your friend.
SOLON

Advice Friendship Please Seek
To make an empire durable, the magistrates must obey the laws and the people the magistrates.
SOLON

Empire Law Obedience People
Say nothing but good of the dead.
SOLON

Death Goodness One Liner
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
He that will sell his fame will also sell the public interest.
SOLON

Frame Interest Public Sale
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
Honors achieved far exceed those that are created.
SOLON

Achievement Creation Excess
True blessedness consisteth in a good life and a happy death.
SOLON

Blessing Death Goodness Life True
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
He who has learned how to obey will know how to command.
SOLON

Command Learning Obedience
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
Put more trust in nobility of character than in an oath.
SOLON

Character Noble Promise Trust
As I grow older, I constantly learn more.
SOLON

Growth Learning Myself Old
Men keep their engagements when it is an advantage to both parties not to break them.
SOLON

Engagement Man Myself Party Relationship
Learn to obey before you command.
SOLON

Command Learning Obedience Yourself
Seek to learn constantly while you live; do not wait in the faith that old age by itself will bring wisdom.
SOLON

Age Faith Learning Live Wisdom
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
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
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
Speech is the mirror of action.
SOLON

Action Mirror One Liner Talk
Angels are winged with God’s power.
SOLON

Angel God Power Wings
Reprove your friend privately, commend him publicly.
SOLON

Commend Friendship Public
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
Pure chastity is beauty to our souls, grace to our bodies, and peace to our desires.
SOLON

Chastity Desire Grace Ourselves Peace Purity Soul
Rich people without wisdom and learning are but sheep with golden fleeces.
SOLON

Gold People Rich Sheep Wisdom

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