# Quote — Sophocles, Antigone

> The ideal condition
>
> Would be, I admit, that men should be right by instinct;
>
> But since we are all too likely to go astray,
>
> The reasonable thing is to learn from those who can teach.

- Author: [Sophocles](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sophocles.md)
- Book: [Antigone](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sophocles/antigone.md)
- Original (grc): φήμ᾿ ἔγωγε πρεσβεύειν πολὺ / φῦναι τὸν ἄνδρα πάντ᾿ ἐπιστήμης πλέων· / εἰ δ᾿ οὖν, φιλεῖ γὰρ τοῦτο μὴ ταύτῃ ῥέπειν, / καὶ τῶν λεγόντων εὖ καλὸν τὸ μανθάνειν.
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Sophocles#Antigone) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/sophocles/antigone/the-ideal-condition

## More from this book

> Show me the man who keeps his house in hand,
>
> He's fit for public authority.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sophocles/antigone/show-me-the.md)

> I have nothing but contempt for the kind of governor who is afraid, for whatever reason, to follow the course that he knows is best for the State; and as for the man who sets private friendship above the public welfare — I have no use for him, either.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sophocles/antigone/i-have-nothing.md)

> Ill-gotten gains work evil.

p. 478 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sophocles/antigone/ill-gotten-gains-work.md)