Silence is an ornament for women.
SophoclesRead
Time is the only test of honest men, one day is space enough to know a rogue.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The passage of time reveals a person's true character and intentions.
In this quote, Sophocles asserts that while time can be a slow and rigorous process, it is ultimately the definitive measure of a person's integrity. Honest individuals will remain true to their character, while those with dishonest intentions will eventually reveal their true selves, often much sooner than one might expect.
Themes
TimeHonestyCharacterIntegrityTruth
In practice
Example use cases
This quote is often used when discussing the importance of patience in assessing someone's true nature.
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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