Xenophon Quotes

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

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

...men unite against none so readily as against those whom theysee attempting to rule over them.

~ Xenophon

I will venture to maintain that where the teacher is not pleasing to the pupil, there is no education.

~ Xenophon

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

Excess of grief for the dead is madness; for it is an injury to the living, and the dead know it not.

~ Xenophon

A horse is a thing of beauty... none will tire of looking at him as long as he displays himself in his splendor.

~ Xenophon

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

The sweetest of all sounds is praise.

~ Xenophon

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