Silence is an ornament for women.
SophoclesRead
It's impossible to speak what it is not noble to do.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Noble actions should be the foundation of our speech and expression.
This quote by Sophocles emphasizes the profound connection between our words and our actions, suggesting that true nobility is not just in deed but also in the honesty of what we communicate. Speaking about noble concepts demands that our actions align with those ideals; if we fail to act nobly, we lack the authenticity to speak of such virtues.
Themes
NobleSpeechActionsHonestyIntegrity
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about integrity, one might use this quote to remind others of the importance of aligning their words with their deeds.
More from Sophocles
All quotes βNone love the messenger who brings bad news.
SophoclesRead
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.
SophoclesRead
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He who is not actively kind is cruel!
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