Controversial Sayings

42 sayings found from the Ancient era from 42 authors

Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

— Jesus Christ c. 30-33 CE
General

Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death.

— Moses c. 1400-1200 BCE (traditional dating of the Exodus)
General

When the great Tao is lost, there is 'benevolence' and 'righteousness'.

— Laozi c. 6th century BCE (approximate)
General

The demonic powers or daævás are expressions or faces (čithr) of aká manah or 'beaten/anguished mind.'

— Zoroaster c. 1500-1200 BCE (approximate)
General

It is natural for men to rule over women.

— Saint Augustine c. 400-430 AD
General

Give me the place to stand, and I shall move the earth.

— Archimedes c. 250 BCE (approximate, statement made much earlier than Pappus's account)
General

I had been chosen by the gods, that I was of divine essence and therefore entitled to rule Egypt.

— Ramesses II c. 1279-1213 BC (reign)
General

If a man destroy the eye of another man, they shall destroy his eye.

— Hammurabi c. 1754 BC
War & Violence

We alone regard a man who takes no interest in public affairs, not as a harmless, but as a useless character.

— Pericles 431 BC (approximate, as recorded by Thucydides)
General

If you want to be wrong then follow the masses.

— Socrates ~399 BC
General

Freedom and slavery, the one is the name of virtue, and the other of vice, and both are acts of the will.

— Epictetus c. 1st-2nd Century AD
Social & Racial

Then welcome fate! 'Tis true I perish, yet I perish great: Yet in a mighty deed I shall expire, Let future ages hear it, and admire!

— Homer c. 8th century BCE
General

I have restored the Republic.

— Augustus Caesar c. 14 AD (written by Augustus)
Political

The people may be made to follow a path of action, but they may not be made to understand it.

— Confucius Approx. 500 BCE
General

I will drink no more water, but only wine.

— Cleopatra c. 40 BCE
General

It is not possible to achieve great progress by violence. Indeed, it is by kindness and gentleness that progress is achieved.

— Ashoka the Great c. 250 BCE
General

Kill no living thing.

— Mahavira Circa 6th century BCE
War & Violence

The courage of a man is shown in commanding, of a woman in obeying.

— Aristotle c. 350 BCE
General

Death is nothing to us; for that which is dissolved is without sensation, and that which lacks sensation is nothing to us.

— Epicurus c. 300 BCE
General

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.

— Sun Tzu c. 5th Century BC
General
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