Silence is an ornament for women.
SophoclesRead
Rash indeed is he who reckons on tomorrow, or happily on the days beyond it; for tomorrow is not, until today is past.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the unpredictability of the future and the importance of living in the present moment.
Sophocles warns against the folly of assuming that the future is guaranteed, urging us to recognize that tomorrow only exists after today has concluded. He highlights the need to focus on the present, as it is the only time we truly possess, and planning for an uncertain future may lead to disappointment or regret.
Themes
FuturePresentLiveTodayUnpredictability
In practice
Example use cases
During a mindfulness workshop, someone might cite this quote to encourage participants to focus on the present.
More from Sophocles
All quotes βNone love the messenger who brings bad news.
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All men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong, and repairs the evil. The only crime is pride.
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You clearly hate to yield, but you will regret it when your anger has passed. Such natures are justly the hardest for themselves to bear.
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There is nothing more hateful than bad advice.
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War is not an independent phenomenon, but the continuation of politics by different means.
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