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All things Quote by Sophocles

“Men whose wit has been mother of villainy once have learned from it to be evil in all things.” quote by Sophocles
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“Men whose wit has been mother of villainy once have learned from it to be evil in all things.”

Sophocles

About This Quote

Source Tragedy: Oedipus Rex, 429 BC

A clever mind can birth villainy; learning from it can lead to pervasive evil.

In simple terms: Wit can create evil, and learning may spread it.

Key Takeaway

Beware letting cleverness breed malice.

Themes

hubris knowledge evil

Mood

cautionary reflective

Type

philosophical warning

When to use this quote

  • political leadership
  • personal ambition

Key Concepts

tragic flaw moral decay

Questions to Reflect On

  • Can intelligence be inherently dangerous?
  • How to channel wit constructively?
A Different Perspective

Might overstate causality.

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