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

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

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

Benefit Legislation Religion
He who has learned how to obey will know how to command.
SOLON

Command Learning Obedience
He that will sell his fame will also sell the public interest.
SOLON

Frame Interest Public Sale
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
True blessedness consisteth in a good life and a happy death.
SOLON

Blessing Death Goodness Life True
Chide a friend in private and praise him in public.
SOLON

Appreciation Friendship Himself Praise Public
Society is well governed when its people obey the magistrates, and the magistrates obey the law.
SOLON

Government Law Obedience People Society
I grow old, ever learning many things.
SOLON

Growth Learning Old
Learn to obey before you command.
SOLON

Command Learning Obedience Yourself
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
Say nothing but good of the dead.
SOLON

Death Goodness One Liner
I grow old learning something new every day.
SOLON

Day Growth Old
Reprove your friend privately, commend him publicly.
SOLON

Commend Friendship Public
Angels are winged with God’s power.
SOLON

Angel God Power Wings
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
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
Pure chastity is beauty to our souls, grace to our bodies, and peace to our desires.
SOLON

Chastity Desire Grace Ourselves Peace Purity Soul
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
Each day grow older, and learn something new.
SOLON

Day Growth Learning Old
Wealth I desire to have; but wrongfully to get it, I do not wish.
SOLON

Desire Myself Wealth Wrong
Poets tell many lies.
SOLON

Lying One Liner Poet
Justice, even if slow, is sure.
SOLON

Justice One Liner Slow
Men keep their engagements when it is an advantage to both parties not to break them.
SOLON

Engagement Man Myself Party Relationship
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

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

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

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