11 Quotes & Sayings By Xenophon

Xenophon of Athens was a Greek historian. He was born in 427 BC in Athens, Greece. His writings cover the period of the Persian Wars, the Peloponnesian War, the defeat of Athens by Sparta, and the retreat of the Athenians to their island home. Xenophon is best known for his Anabasis (an army's march); an account of his five-year service as an officer with 10,000 Greek mercenaries in the Persian army; and for his Hellenika (biography of ten talented Greek warriors), which consists of anecdotes about Spartan soldiers and events that occurred during the Peloponnesian War.

No human being will ever know the truth, for even...
1
No human being will ever know the truth, for even if they happened to say it by chance, they would not know they had done so. Xenophon
2
You are well aware that it is not numbers or strength that bring the victories in war. No, it is when one side goes against the enemy with the gods' gift of a stronger morale that their adversaries, as a rule, cannot withstand them. I have noticed this point too, my friends, that in soldiering the people whose one aim is to keep alive usually find a wretched and dishonorable death, while the people who, realizing that death is the common lot of all men, make it their endeavour to die with honour, somehow seem more often to reach old age and to have a happier life when they are alive. These are facts which you too should realize (our situation demands it) and should show that you yourselves are brave men and should call on the rest to do likewise. . Xenophon
3
...men unite against none so readily as against those whom theysee attempting to rule over them. Xenophon
4
The sweetest of all sounds is praise. Xenophon
5
I will venture to maintain that where the teacher is not pleasing to the pupil, there is no education. Xenophon
6
All the children of the great men in Persia are brought up at court, where they have an opportunity of learning great modesty, and where nothing immodest is ever heard or seen. Xenophon
7
Excess of grief for the dead is madness; for it is an injury to the living, and the dead know it not. Xenophon
8
A horse is a thing of beauty... none will tire of looking at him as long as he displays himself in his splendor. Xenophon
9
For what the horse does under compulsion, as Simon also observes, is done without understanding; and there is no beauty in it either, any more than if one should whip and spur a dancer. Xenophon
10
For myself, I think that those who cultivate wisdom and believe themselves able to instruct their fellow-citizens as to their interests are least likely to become partisans of violence. They are too well aware that to violence attach enmities and dangers, whereas results as good may be obtained by persuasion safely and amicably. Xenophon