John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
8467 Sopholes 496 BC-406 BC John Bartlett
| NUMBER: | 8467 |
| AUTHOR: | Sophocles (c. 496 B.C.–406 B.C.) |
| QUOTATION: | There is an ancient saying, famous among men, that thou shouldst not judge fully of a man’s life before he dieth, whether it should be called blest or wretched. 1 |
| ATTRIBUTION: | Trachiniæ, 1. |
| Note 1. The saying “Call no man happy before he dies” was ascribed to Solon Herodotus, i. 32. [back] |