Ancient Greek Philosophers

Happiness depends upon ourselves.

—Aristotle

A friend to all is a friend to none.

—Aristotle

He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader.

—Aristotle

Give me a child until he is 7 and I will show you the man.

—Aristotle

It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.

—Aristotle

One swallow does not make a summer, neither does one fine day; similarly one day or brief time of happiness does not make a person entirely happy.

—Aristotle

I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies, for the hardest victory is over self.

—Aristotle

I have gained this by philosophy; I do without being ordered what some are constrained to do by their fear of the law.

—Aristotle

The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.

—Aristotle

Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow ripening fruit.

—Aristotle

Whatever lies within our power to do lies also within our power not to do.

—Aristotle

The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.

—Aristotle

Freedom is obedience to self-formulated rules.

—Aristotle

It is not enough to win a war; it is more important to organize the peace.

—Aristotle

The soul never thinks without a mental picture.

—Aristotle

Great men are always of a nature originally melancholy.

—Aristotle

Wit is educated insolence.

—Aristotle

Nature does nothing uselessly.

—Aristotle

The only stable state is the one in which all men are equal before the law.

—Aristotle

The aim of the wise is not to secure pleasure, but to avoid pain.

—Aristotle

It is of the nature of desire not to be satisfied, and most men live only for the gratification of it.

—Aristotle

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

—Aristotle

Hope is a waking dream.

—Aristotle

To perceive is to suffer.

—Aristotle

Anybody can become angry — that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way — that is not within everybody’s power and is not easy.

—Aristotle

Men create gods after their own image, not only with regard to their form, but with regard to their mode of life.

—Aristotle

All men by nature desire to know.

—Aristotle

The energy of the mind is the essence of life.

—Aristotle

Happiness is a state of activity.

—Aristotle

Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives – choice, not chance, determines your destiny.

—Aristotle