Not to be born is, past all prizing, best.

μὴ φῦναι τὸν ἅπαντα νικᾷ λόγον

Sophocles

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More information about this quote

Topic

Being born The human condition

Author

Sophocles

Source

Oedipus at Colonus

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragic play Greek theater

Language

Greek

Time

406 BC 400s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Occupation

Playwright Writer

From

Greece Europe Ancient Greece

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Sophocles. Οἰδίπους ἐπὶ Κολωνῷ [Oedipus at Colonus]. 401 BC, Festival of Dionysus, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

Sophocles. "Oedipus at Colonus." The Three Theban Plays: Antigone, Oedipus the King, Odeipus at Colonus, translated by Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics, 2000.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Sophocles about being born: “Not to be born is, past all prizing, best.”
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A quote by Sophocles about being born: “Not to be born is, past all prizing, best.”
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A quote by Sophocles about being born: “Not to be born is, past all prizing, best.”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote about The human condition

The world breaks every one and afterward many are strong at the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too but there will be no special hurry.

Ernest Hemingway

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More information about this quote
Topic
Suffering The human condition

Author

Ernest Hemingway
Source
A Farewell to Arms
Medium
Novel
Genre
War novel
Language
English
Time
1929 1920s 20th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Hemingway, Ernest. "A Farewell to Arms." Scribner's Magazine, May 1929 - Oct. 1929, bk. 4, ch. 34.

Current Citation

Hemingway, Ernest. A Farewell to Arms. Scribners, 1995, bk. 4, ch. 34.

Another quote from the 5th century BC

As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Psalm 103:12

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More information about this quote
Topic
Forgiveness of sins
Source
Psalms The Bible
Medium
Scripture
Genre
Religious literature
Language
Hebrew
Time
450 BC 450s BC 5th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 3
Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Psalm 103:12).

Another quote from Classical antiquity

In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

God

Genesis 3:19

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More information about this quote
Topic
Work Original sin The human condition
Speaker
God
Source
Genesis The Bible
Medium
Scripture
Genre
Religious literature
Language
Hebrew
Time
1405 BC 1400s BC 15th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 3
Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Genesis 3:19).

Another quote originally in Greek

Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

Jesus

Matthew 22:21

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More information about this quote
Topic
Church and state Religion and politics Taxes
Speaker
Jesus
Source
Gospel of Matthew The Bible
Medium
Scripture
Genre
Religious literature
Statement Type
Orders and commands
Language
Greek
Time
60 60s 1st century
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 3
Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Matthew 22:21).