“It is terrible when someone who is good knows it”: Three Fragments from Sophocles on Nobility

Fr. 836

“A beggar is no worse, if he thinks well

οὐδὲν κακίων πτωχός, εἰ καλῶς φρονεῖ

Fr. 839

“Noble words cannot come from ignoble actions”

οὐκ ἔστ’ ἀπ’ ἔργων μὴ καλῶν ἔπη καλά

Fr. 931

“It is terrible when someone who is good knows it”

ἦ δεινὸν ἆρ’ ἦν, ἡνίκ’ ἄν τις ἐσθλὸς ὢν
αὑτῷ συνειδῇ

Leave a Reply