Human photography essay

Solon quotes

Seek to help others, not please others.

Praised by good old Aristotle:

Here are some notable quotes from Solon, the ancient Greek lawmaker and poet:

  1. “Seek to learn constantly while you live; do not wait in the faith that old age by itself will bring wisdom” oai_citation:1,TOP 25 QUOTES BY SOLON (of 56) | A-Z Quotes.
  2. “Learn to obey before you command” oai_citation:2,Solon Quotes – BrainyQuote oai_citation:3,Solon Quotes oai_citation:4,Top 40 Solon Quotes (2024 Update) – QuoteFancy.
  3. “Put more trust in nobility of character than in an oath” oai_citation:5,Solon Quotes – BrainyQuote oai_citation:6,Solon Quotes.
  4. “Speech is the mirror of action” oai_citation:7,Solon Quotes – BrainyQuote.
  5. “Rich people without wisdom and learning are but sheep with golden fleeces” oai_citation:8,Solon Quotes – BrainyQuote.
  6. “Let no man be called happy before his death. Till then, he is not happy, only lucky” oai_citation:9,Solon Quotes – BrainyQuote.
  7. “Call no man happy until he is dead” oai_citation:10,Solon Quotes (Author of Dichtungen) – Goodreads.
  8. “No more good must be attempted than the nation can bear” oai_citation:11,Solon Quotes (Author of Dichtungen) – Goodreads.
  9. “In giving advice, seek to help, not please, your friend” oai_citation:12,Solon Quotes.
  10. “Men keep agreements when it is to the advantage of neither to break them” oai_citation:13,Solon Quotes.
  11. “I grow old learning something new every day” oai_citation:14,Top 40 Solon Quotes (2024 Update) – QuoteFancy.
  12. “Laws are like spider’s webs: If some poor weak creature comes up against them, it is caught; but a big one can break through and get away” oai_citation:15,Top 40 Solon Quotes (2024 Update) – QuoteFancy.

These quotes reflect Solon’s wisdom and his understanding of life, leadership, and law. His thoughts on learning, character, and the nature of happiness are particularly profound and relevant even today.

ERIC KIM

Photographer, blogger, street photography educator, artist-publisher. Human-generated essays from the pavement, the camera, the body, and the real world.