Pericles Biography

Pericles, Statesman

Attr: Vatican Museums

Occup.	Statesman
From	Greece
Born	495 BC Athens, Greece
Died	429 BC Athens, Greece

Pericles was born around 495 BC in Athens, Greece, to a wealthy and influential family. He received the best education of his time from well-known teachers, including the philosopher Anaxagoras. Pericles developed an interest in politics at an early age, influenced by his father and the democracy of Athens.

Pericles began his political career as a protege of his close friend, Ephialtes, who was a political reformer. After the assassination of Ephialtes in 461 BC, Pericles became the leading figure in Athenian politics. In 460 BC, he was elected as one of the ten generals of Athens, a position he held for nearly thirty years.

During his time as a general, Pericles made significant contributions to Athenian politics and culture. He is recognized for his policies that strengthened Athenian democracy and for his building projects that transformed Athens into a cultural center. Pericles also played a pivotal role in the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta, which lasted from 431 BC until 404 BC.

Pericles was a master orator, known for his eloquence and powerful speeches. He was an advocate for social justice and human rights, introducing reforms that improved the lives of Athenians, including free education for all citizens, regardless of their social class, and an increase in the number of elected officials. These policies led to the flourishing of the arts, architecture, philosophy, and literature in Athens, which came to be known as the Golden Age of Athens.

Despite his many accomplishments, Pericles' leadership was not without controversy. He was accused of corruption and misusing public funds, which led to his trial in 430 BC. Although he was acquitted, Pericles' reputation was tarnished, and he died only a year later in the midst of an outbreak of the plague, which was devastating Athens.

Pericles' legacy as a politician, military strategist, and cultural icon, endures to this day. He is regarded as one of the greatest leaders in Athens and Ancient Greece's history, with his contributions continuing to inspire political and cultural leaders worldwide. Pericles' famous Funeral Oration in honor of Athenian soldiers who died during the Peloponnesian War is still revered for its eloquence and is considered one of the greatest speeches in history.

Our collection contains 14 quotes who is written / told by Pericles, under the main topic Time.

Related authors: Anaxagoras (Philosopher), Philo (Philosopher)

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14 Famous quotes by Pericles

"Trees, though they are cut and loped, grow up again quickly, but if men are destroyed, it is not easy to get them again"

"We do not imitate, but are a model to others"

"Time is the king of all men, he is their parent and their grave, and gives them what he will and not what they crave"

"Time is the wisest counselor of all"

"What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others"

"A woman's greatest glory is to be little talked about by men, whether for good or ill"

"Wait for the wisest of all counselors, time"

"Having knowledge but lacking the power to express it clearly is no better than never having any ideas at all"

"Freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it"

"Fishes live in the sea, as men do on land: the great ones eat up the little ones"

"Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you"

"For famous men have the whole earth as their memorial"

"The whole earth is the tomb of heroic men and their story is not given only on stone over their clay but abides everywhere without visible symbol woven into the stuff of other mens lives"

"Our love of what is beautiful does not lead to extravagance; our love of the things of the mind does not make us soft"