Silence is an ornament for women.
SophoclesRead
Death is not the greatest of evils; it is worse to want to die, and not be able to.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes that the desire for death, without the capacity to achieve it, can be more torturous than death itself.
In this quote, Sophocles highlights the profound suffering that can arise from a state of despair or hopelessness, where one longs for death as a relief but is ultimately unable to escape their circumstances. It suggests that the longing for an end to suffering can become a more significant burden than death, provoking deep thoughts about the nature of existence, pain, and the human condition.
Themes
DeathDespairSufferingExistenceLonging
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about mental health awareness.
More from Sophocles
All quotes βNone love the messenger who brings bad news.
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All men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong, and repairs the evil. The only crime is pride.
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Not even Ares battles against necessity.
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You clearly hate to yield, but you will regret it when your anger has passed. Such natures are justly the hardest for themselves to bear.
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There is nothing more hateful than bad advice.
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