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What you can’t enforce, do not command.

Sophocles

You win the victory when you yield to friends.
SOPHOCLES

Friendship Victory Win Yourself
Go then if you must, but remember, no matter how foolish your deeds, those who love you will love you still.
SOPHOCLES

Fools Love Remember Yourself
The keenest sorrow is to recognize ourselves as the sole cause of all our adversities.
SOPHOCLES

Adversity Ourselves Recognition Sorrow
How terrible is wisdom, when it brings no profit to the man that’s wise.
SOPHOCLES

Man Profit Terrible Wisdom
Things gained through unjust fraud are never secure.
SOPHOCLES

Justice Mistake Security
A word does not frighten the man who, in acting feels no fear.
SOPHOCLES

Act Fear Feeling Man Word
Knowledge must come through action.
SOPHOCLES

Action Knowledge
God will not punish the man Who makes return for an injury.
SOPHOCLES

God Injury Punishment Return
Don’t you know that silence supports the accuser’s charge?
SOPHOCLES

Accuse Blame Charge Silence Support
The oaths of a woman I inscribe on water.
SOPHOCLES

Inscription Myself Promise Water Woman
Not to be born surpasses all reckoning. The next best thing by far, when one has been born is to go back as swiftly as possible whence one came.
SOPHOCLES

Best Born Oneself Possible Reckon
But the power of destiny is something awesome; neither wealth, nor Ares, nor a tower, nor dark-hulled ships might escape it.
SOPHOCLES

Darkness Destiny Escape Power Wealth
What fate can be worse than to know we have no one but ourselves to blame for our misfortunes!
SOPHOCLES

Blame Fate Fortune Worst
It is a base thing for a man among the people not to obey those in command. Never in a state can the laws be well administered when fear does not stand firm.
SOPHOCLES

Administration Fear Law Man Obedience People Stand State
Opinions have greater power than strength of hands.
SOPHOCLES

Greatness Hands Opinion Power
Best to live lightly, unthinkingly.
SOPHOCLES

Best Light Live Thinking

What you can’t enforce, do not command.

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What you can’t enforce, do not command.

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