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Xenophon Quotes
431 BC–354 BC Greece
Xenophon (Ancient Greek: Ξενοφῶν, Xenophôn; c. 431 BC – c. 354 BC) was an Athenian author, historian and mercenary, who led the epic retreat of the Ten Thousand from Mesopotamia to the Black Sea coast. He knew Socrates, Cyrus the Younger and Agesilaus II of Sparta, and wrote about all of them.
Greece Authors Historians Military leaders Also known as: Ξενοφῶν
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21 quotes
Yet is it more honourable, and just, and upright, and pleasing, to treasure in the memory good acts than bad.
Anabasis (-370)
Wherever magistrates were appointed from among those who complied with the injunctions of the laws, he (Socrates) considered the government to be an aristocracy.
The most pleasing of all sounds that of your own praise.
Those who take money are bound to carry out the work for which they get a fee, while I, because I refuse to take it, am not obliged to talk with anyone against my will.
They live best, I think, who strive best to become as good as possible: and the pleasantest life is theirs who are conscious that they are growing in goodness.
To forget good counsel is to forget the experiences that prompted the soul to desire prudence: and when those are forgotten, it is not surprising that prudence itself is forgotten.
Nothing forced or misunderstood can be beautiful.
To offer one’s beauty for money to all comers is called prostitution. … So is it with wisdom. Those who offer it to all comers for money are known as sophists, prostitutors of wisdom.
When we see a woman bartering beauty for gold, we look upon such a one as no other than a common prostitute. ... It is the very same with philosophy: he who sets it forth for public sale, to be disposed of to the highest bidder, is a sophist, a public prostitute.
You are incessantly entertained with the most delightful of all music, that of your own praises. (tr. R. Graves, 1832)
"Whatever a despot by enactment constrains the citizens to do without persuasion, is the negation of law?” “Everything, I think, that men constrain others to do without persuasion, whether by enactment or not, is not law, but force.”
Clearchus spoke, and his words were few; "Conquerors do not, as a rule, give up their arms." (tr. H. G. Dakyns, 1890)
Anabasis (-370)
If the campaign is in summer the general must show himself greedy for his share of the sun and the heat, and in winter for the cold and the frost, and in all labours for toil and fatigue. This will help to make him beloved of his followers.
Cyropaedia (-360)
When we see a woman bartering beauty for gold, we look upon such a one as no other than a common prostitute; but she who rewards the passion of some worthy youth with it, gains at the same time our approbation and esteem. It is the very same with philosophy: he who sets it forth for public sale, to be disposed of to the highest bidder, is a sophist, a public prostitute.
Many who are careful with their money no sooner fall in love than they begin to waste it: and when they have spent it all, they no longer shrink from making more by methods which they formerly avoided because they thought them disgraceful.
I will venture to maintain that where the teacher is not pleasing to the pupil there is no education. (tr. H. G. Dakyns, 1897)
As to what happened next, it is possible to maintain that the hand of heaven was involved, and also possible to say that when men are desperate no one can stand up to them. (tr. R. Warner, 1978)
But if any other course, in any one's opinion, be better than this, let him, even though he be a private soldier, boldly give us his sentiments; for the safety, which we all seek, is a general concern.
Anabasis (-370)
If we were at war and wanted to choose a leader most capable of helping us to save ourselves and conquer the enemy, should we choose one whom we knew to be the slave of the belly, or of wine, or lust, or sleep?
You seem, Antiphon, to imagine that happiness consists in luxury and extravagance. But my belief is that to have no wants is divine; to have as few as possible comes next to the divine; and as that which is divine is supreme, so that which approaches nearest to its nature is nearest to the supreme.
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