Silence is an ornament for women.
SophoclesRead
Time alone reveals the just man; but you might discern a bad man in a single day.
Interpretation
What this quote means
It takes time to truly understand a person's character, while negative traits can be spotted quickly.
This quote by Sophocles suggests that the true nature of a person, particularly that of a just man, becomes evident only through the passage of time and their consistent actions over that time. Conversely, negative characteristics or the essence of a 'bad man' can often be identified quickly, implying the complexity of goodness versus the straightforwardness of wrongdoing.
Themes
CharacterTimeJusticeMoralityUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about ethics, you might say, 'As Sophocles noted, time alone reveals the just man.'
More from Sophocles
All quotes βNone love the messenger who brings bad news.
SophoclesRead
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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Not even Ares battles against necessity.
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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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