Sima Qian

Sima Qian (C. 145-90 BCE)

"The enlightened ruler raises up those people who would otherwise be overlooked. The humble he makes eminent, the poor he enriches, the distant he draws close to him. Then those both high and low can be won over and the nation will be secure."

• From a speech delivered by Zhao Gao in the Records of the Grand Historian (Shi Ji, 6) by Sima Qian. Translated by Burton Watson (Columbia University Press, 1993).

Look at more Sima Qian quotes, HERE.

Check out more Chinese quote pictures, HERE.

Glance through more ancient quote pictures, HERE.

Return to the quote pictures home page, HERE. 

Tacitus

Tacitus (c. 56-117+)

"Numbers encourage prejudice and hostile emotion."

• From The Annals of Imperial Rome (Chapter 5), by Tacitus, translated by Michael Grant (Penguin Classics, 1996).

Take a look at other Tacitus quotes, HERE.

Take a look at other Roman quote pictures, HERE.

Glance through the ancient quote picture section, HERE.

Return to the quote picture page, HERE. 

Confucius

Confucius (flourished 6th century BCE)

"He who is broad wins the multitude, he who keeps his word is trusted by the people, he who is diligent succeeds in all he undertakes, he who is just is the joy (of the people)."

• From The Analects of Confucius (Book XX, 1) translated by Arthur Waley (Vintage Books, 1989).

Check out more wise quotes from Confucius, HERE.

Glance through other Chinese quotes, HERE.

Take a look at more philosophy quotes, HERE.

Return to the quote picture home page, HERE.

Grettir the Strong

Grettir the Strong (allegedly flourished in the 11th century)

"Many search in the distance while the truth is staring them in the eyes."

• Spoken by the character, Grettir, in the anonymously written Grettir's Saga (c. 14th century), translated by Jesse Byock (Oxford World's Classics, 2009).

Browse through more quotes from Grettir's Saga, HERE.

Take a look at other Norse/Scandinavian quote pictures, HERE.

Check out other medieval quote pictures, HERE.

Return to the quote picture home page, HERE.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (c. 1859-1930)

"Crime is commonplace, existence is commonplace, and no qualities save those which are commonplace have any function upon earth."

• From The Sign of the Four (Chapter 1), in Sherlock Holmes: The Ultimate Collection (Enhanced Media, 2016).

Take a look at more British quotes, HERE.

Check out more literary quote pictures, HERE.

Glance through other modern quotes, HERE.

Return to the quote picture home page, HERE.

Plutarch

Plutarch (c. 50-120)

"To push too far is risky in all circumstances, but when political ambitions are involved it is fatal."

• On Sparta (Life of Agis), excerpted from Plutarch's Parallel Lives, translated by Richard J. A. Talbert. New York: Penguin Classics, 2005.

Take a look at other Roman quote pictures, HERE.

Glance through the ancient quote picture section, HERE.

Return to the quote picture page, HERE. 

The Buddha

The Buddha (this saying written down in the 3rd Century BCE)

"Wandering far and alone, intangible,
the mind is hidden in the cave of the body.
Those who would restrain the mind
are liberated from the bonds of Māra."

• From The Dhammapada (Verses on the Way, Chapter 3), recorded in the 3rd century BCE. Translation by Glenn Wallis, 2004.

Check out more quotes from the Buddha, HERE.

Take a look at other religious quotes, HERE.

Glance through our ancient quote picture category, HERE.

Return to the quote picture home page, HERE