Silence is an ornament for women.
SophoclesRead
Time alone reveals the just man; but you might discern a bad man in a single day.
Interpretation
What this quote means
It takes time to truly understand a person's character, while negative traits can be spotted quickly.
This quote by Sophocles suggests that the true nature of a person, particularly that of a just man, becomes evident only through the passage of time and their consistent actions over that time. Conversely, negative characteristics or the essence of a 'bad man' can often be identified quickly, implying the complexity of goodness versus the straightforwardness of wrongdoing.
Themes
CharacterTimeJusticeMoralityUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about ethics, you might say, 'As Sophocles noted, time alone reveals the just man.'
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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