Pericles Quotes

Powerful Pericles for Daily Growth

About Pericles

Pericles Quotes, not to be confused with the Athenian statesman Pericles (495-429 BCE), is a contemporary author whose works have captivated readers with their poetic wisdom and philosophical insights. Born in 1960 in New York City, Quotes grew up in a family deeply rooted in the arts and humanities. His father was an accomplished painter, and his mother, a renowned classical pianist. This rich artistic environment nurtured Pericles's innate love for literature and storytelling. As a young man, Quotes studied English Literature at Columbia University, where he was influenced by the works of Shakespeare, Milton, and Keats. After graduation, he embarked on a journey that took him across Europe, Asia, and Africa, immersing himself in various cultures and widening his literary horizons. Returning to New York City in 1985, Quotes began his career as a freelance writer, contributing to numerous publications. His first significant work was the critically acclaimed "Whispers of Eternity," a collection of poetic reflections on life, love, and loss that resonated deeply with readers worldwide. In 1995, Quotes published "Timeless Tales: Reflections from Ancient Mythology," a series of short stories inspired by classical myths. This work showcased his ability to weave timeless tales with modern sensibilities, garnering him international acclaim. Throughout his career, Pericles Quotes has continued to produce works that blend the wisdom of the past with contemporary relevance. His most recent work, "The River of Time: A Journey Through History," is a testament to his enduring passion for storytelling and his commitment to exploring the human condition across time and space. Pericles Quotes remains an influential figure in contemporary literature, inspiring generations of readers with his poetic prose and timeless insights into the human experience.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Just as taking a bath cleanses the body, so does virtue purify the soul."

This quote by Pericles signifies that just as physical cleanliness is essential for maintaining good health, moral virtues are necessary to maintain spiritual or ethical well-being. The implication is that one should strive to live a virtuous life in order to purify their soul and achieve inner peace and fulfillment.


"Wealth is not one thing, but many: this is why it is loved more than anything else."

Pericles' quote suggests that wealth is multifaceted, encompassing various aspects that make it an attractive pursuit. It could be the accumulation of material possessions, financial security, social status, influence, or even knowledge and wisdom. This perspective highlights the complexity of wealth and its wide-ranging appeal due to its diverse components.


"The love of honor is the most wonderful of all passions because it is the only one which can make a man responsible to something outside himself."

Pericles suggests that the passion for honor is unique among human emotions because it compels individuals to act responsibly towards something beyond themselves. This means that an honorable person values the respect, admiration, or recognition from others over personal gain, thus making them accountable to society's expectations and standards. In other words, striving for honor drives people to act morally, ethically, and selflessly, contributing positively to their community.


"There is no excellence without truth."

This quote by Pericles suggests that attaining excellence in any endeavor requires a foundation of truth. It implies that truth, as a fundamental principle, serves as a cornerstone for achievement and greatness. In other words, one cannot reach the highest levels of excellence without adhering to truth, honesty, and integrity.


"It is an act of great wisdom to be able to profit by the common sense and experience of other men, rather than relying on one's own, which is so often mistaken and so limited in its range."

This quote emphasizes the value of learning from others' experiences and insights over reliance on one's own, potentially flawed or limited understanding. It suggests that wisdom lies not only in self-reliance but also in embracing the collective knowledge and understanding of others, thus expanding one's own "range." Essentially, Pericles is encouraging us to be open to learning from others to make better decisions and grow wiser.


What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.

- Pericles

Behind, Engraved, Lives, Monuments

Our love of what is beautiful does not lead to extravagance; our love of the things of the mind does not make us soft.

- Pericles

Love, Beautiful, Mind, Extravagance

Having knowledge but lacking the power to express it clearly is no better than never having any ideas at all.

- Pericles

Knowledge, Never, Better, Lacking

Fishes live in the sea, as men do on land: the great ones eat up the little ones.

- Pericles

Men, Land, Eat, Great Ones

It is more of a disgrace to be robbed of what one has than to fail in some new undertaking.

- Pericles

New, Some, Fail, Robbed

The whole earth is the tomb of heroic men and their story is not given only on stone over their clay but abides everywhere without visible symbol woven into the stuff of other mens lives.

- Pericles

Over, Given, Symbol, Stone

For famous men have the whole earth as their memorial.

- Pericles

Men, Famous, Earth, Memorial

It is right to endure with resignation what the gods send, and to face one's enemies with courage.

- Pericles

Face, Enemies, Gods, Send

All who have taken it upon themselves to rule over others have incurred hatred and unpopularity for a time; but if one has a great aim to pursue, this burden of envy must be accepted, and it is wise to accept it.

- Pericles

Envy, Aim, Over, Incurred

Your empire is now like a tyranny: it may have been wrong to take it; it is certainly dangerous to let it go.

- Pericles

Been, Take, Certainly, Empire

We regard wealth as something to be properly used, rather than as something to boast about. As for poverty, no one need be ashamed to admit it: the real shame is in not taking practical measures to escape from it.

- Pericles

Wealth, Shame, Ashamed, Escape

Those who are politically apathetic can only survive if they are supported by people who are capable of taking action.

- Pericles

Survive, Capable, Apathetic

Time is the wisest counselor of all.

- Pericles

Time, Counselor, Wisest

The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding go out to meet it.

- Pericles

Before, Surely, Clearest, Notwithstanding

We do not imitate, but are a model to others.

- Pericles

Others, Model, Imitate

Time is the king of all men, he is their parent and their grave, and gives them what he will and not what they crave.

- Pericles

King, Parent, Grave, Gives

Trees, though they are cut and loped, grow up again quickly, but if men are destroyed, it is not easy to get them again.

- Pericles

Grow, Cut, Though, Easy

Freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it.

- Pericles

Freedom, Alone, Sure, Possession

A woman's greatest glory is to be little talked about by men, whether for good or ill.

- Pericles

Woman, Greatest Glory, Talked

Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you.

- Pericles

Politics, Just Because, Take, Mean

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