Euripides Quotes

Powerful Euripides for Daily Growth

About Euripides

Euripides (480 BC - 406 BC), a renowned playwright in ancient Athens, was born into an aristocratic family during the Golden Age of Athenian drama. His exact birthdate is unknown, but it's believed he lived for approximately 75 years. Euripides was greatly influenced by his contemporaries Aeschylus and Sophocles, who were also prominent playwrights in their own right. However, Euripides is often considered the most innovative of the three, with a unique approach to storytelling that emphasized human emotions, conflicts, and psychological complexity. His first play was presented at the City Dionysia festival in 455 BC. Over the next three decades, he wrote more than ninety plays, of which only eighteen have survived intact. Some of his most famous works include "Medea," a tale of betrayal and revenge; "The Trojan Women," a poignant account of the aftermath of the Trojan War; "Hippolytus," a tragic story of purity and deceit; and "Iphigenia in Aulis," which explores the difficult choices faced by families during times of war. Euripides' works were not always popular with the Athenian audience, as they often challenged traditional views and explored controversial themes. Despite this, his plays have had a lasting impact on Western literature, influencing future playwrights such as Seneca, Racine, and Shakespeare. His legacies are not only in literature but also in philosophy, where Socrates is recorded to have referred to Euripides as the 'wise man'. In his later years, Euripides was exiled from Athens during a political upheaval. He spent his final days on the island of Salamis, where he passed away in 406 BC. Despite his tumultuous life and often contentious relationship with the city that nurtured him, Euripides' impact on drama remains significant to this day.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The gods bring men to perfection not by adding something but by removing obstacles."

This quote suggests that personal growth and development are achieved not through external gains, but rather by overcoming internal challenges or obstacles that hinder our potential. It emphasizes the idea that true progress comes from self-discovery, resilience, and learning to navigate life's difficulties rather than relying on external factors for improvement. In essence, it encourages individuals to focus on cultivating inner strength and wisdom to unlock their full potential.


"Even the wise cannot see all things that will happen, and human foresight is limited."

This quote by Euripides underscores the inherent limitations of human understanding and foresight. It emphasizes that despite our wisdom and intellectual capacities, there are many events and outcomes in life that remain beyond our comprehension or prediction. This serves as a humbling reminder that we should approach life with humility, recognizing the boundaries of our knowledge and acknowledging the unpredictable nature of existence.


"It is not the life in man that makes him happy but the custom of looking on the good side."

Euripides suggests that a person's happiness is not primarily determined by their inherent nature or circumstances, but rather by their perspective and attitude towards those circumstances. In other words, it's not just what happens to us in life, but how we choose to interpret and respond to those events that ultimately shapes our happiness. By choosing to focus on the positive aspects of our lives and situations, we can cultivate a more optimistic and content outlook, thus making ourselves happier.


"God gives us relatives, thank God no one can have too many."

Euripides' quote highlights the complexities and sometimes challenges that come with family relationships, but also underscores their inherent importance in our lives. Despite the difficulties we may face with relatives, the bond of kinship often provides us with a unique sense of belonging, emotional support, and shared history. However, it is beneficial to remember that the quality, not just quantity, of these relationships matters most. The quote humorously suggests that while God may bless us with many relatives, it's up to us to decide how we nurture those connections for our own well-being.


"He who educates children well is indeed the educator of the nation."

This quote by Euripides emphasizes that investing in education, particularly of children, holds immense significance for a society as a whole. The education provided to young minds shapes their perspectives, values, and behaviors, thereby influencing the future direction of the nation. By nurturing individuals who are well-informed, open-minded, and responsible, we contribute to the development of a progressive, intelligent, and empathetic nation. Thus, educators play an essential role in shaping the nation's destiny.


To a father growing old nothing is dearer than a daughter.

- Euripides

Father, Growing, Old, Father's Day

Friends show their love in times of trouble, not in happiness.

- Euripides

Love, Friendship, Happiness, Times

In misfortune, which friend remains a friend?

- Euripides

Friend, Misfortune, Which, Remains

One does nothing who tries to console a despondent person with word. A friend is one who aids with deeds at a critical time when deeds are called for.

- Euripides

Deeds, Critical, Tries, Console

Question everything. Learn something. Answer nothing.

- Euripides

Learning, Learn, Question, Answer

Events will take their course, it is no good of being angry at them; he is happiest who wisely turns them to the best account.

- Euripides

Will, Happiest, Them, Events

I would prefer as friend a good man ignorant than one more clever who is evil too.

- Euripides

Good, More, Prefer, A Good Man

Among mortals second thoughts are wisest.

- Euripides

Thoughts, Wisest, Among, Mortals

Impudence is the worst of all human diseases.

- Euripides

Human, Worst, Diseases, Impudence

Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish.

- Euripides

Fool, Talk, Calls, Foolish

Love is all we have, the only way that each can help the other.

- Euripides

Love, Help, Other, Love Is

The bold are helpless without cleverness.

- Euripides

Bold, Without, Cleverness, Helpless

Leave no stone unturned.

- Euripides

Wisdom, Leave, Unturned, Stone

One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives.

- Euripides

Friendship, Friend, Loyal, Relatives

Lucky that man whose children make his happiness in life and not his grief, the anguished disappointment of his hopes.

- Euripides

Disappointment, Lucky, His, Anguished

No one is truly free, they are a slave to wealth, fortune, the law, or other people restraining them from acting according to their will.

- Euripides

Wealth, Fortune, Other, Restraining

Luckier than one's neighbor, but still not happy.

- Euripides

Happy, Still, Than, Luckier

The best of seers is he who guesses well.

- Euripides

Best, Well, He, Guesses

Ten soldiers wisely led will beat a hundred without a head.

- Euripides

War, Head, Hundred, Wisely

Nothing has more strength than dire necessity.

- Euripides

Strength, Nothing, More, Dire

God hates violence. He has ordained that all men fairly possess their property, not seize it.

- Euripides

Men, Seize, Fairly, Ordained

Human misery must somewhere have a stop; there is no wind that always blows a storm.

- Euripides

Storm, Stop, Always, Wind

The wavering mind is but a base possession.

- Euripides

Mind, Possession, Wavering, Base

Life has no blessing like a prudent friend.

- Euripides

Friendship, Like, Prudent, Blessing

No one can confidently say that he will still be living tomorrow.

- Euripides

Death, Living, Still, Confidently

Wealth stays with us a little moment if at all: only our characters are steadfast, not our gold.

- Euripides

Moment, Wealth, Our, Steadfast

The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life, acknowledge the great powers around us and in us. If you can do that, and live that way, you are really a wise man.

- Euripides

Best, Your, Safest, Powers

Danger gleams like sunshine to a brave man's eyes.

- Euripides

Sunshine, Brave, Like, Gleam

There is the sky, which is all men's together.

- Euripides

Nature, Sky, Which, Together

Do not plan for ventures before finishing what's at hand.

- Euripides

Plan, Finishing, Before, Ventures

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