Who really said it
A later English collection credits Pythagoras; no ancient passage or identified translation was established.
Last verified 9 Nov 2026 · how we verify · spot an error?
For presentations
Unconfirmed quote & credit
“Rest satisfied with doing well, and leave others to talk of you as they please” — Attributed to Pythagoras in a later English collection; ancient source and exact translation unconfirmed
Can you use it?
We couldn’t establish where this was first published, so there’s no rights status to give. Credit it as shown above — just don’t present it as public domain, and get permission for commercial or published reuse.
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In context
Evoking the world of Pythagoras — Ancient Greek philosopher. Theme: "Rest satisfied with doing well, and leave others to talk of you as they please". Atmospheric and restrained, cinematic directional light, a muted period-appropriate palette, fine grain and texture. Compose with generous empty space for the quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.
Minimalist
Minimalist editorial slide for the quote "Rest satisfied with doing well, and leave others to talk of you as they please". Clean background, a single muted accent color, generous negative space, subtle paper or linen texture, no literal illustration — let the words carry it. Reserve clear space for a serif quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.
Provenance
Rest satisfied with doing well, and leave others to talk of you as they please.
Read the attribution evidenceHow we verified this
The exact English wording or its first publication has not been pinned down; no public-domain clearance is asserted.
Rights status is our research, not legal advice — and copyright varies by country and edition. For commercial or published use, confirm with the rightsholder. See terms.
Context
The inspected references lead to a nineteenth-century collection rather than a located ancient passage. Its advice about private satisfaction and public criticism may suit an ethical anthology, but that suitability is not evidence that Pythagoras originated the exact words.
Explore
More provenance-checked quotes on the same theme, each with its reuse status.
Go further
Trusted places to keep pulling the thread — primary archives, fact-checks, and scholarship. We show how we used each one before you leave.
Wikiquote attributes the sentence through the 1853 collection.
LibQuotes repeats the wording and names the same 1853 book without an ancient locator.
Stanford examines the historical evidence and later sayings assigned to Pythagoras.
Read Diogenes’ account of Pythagoras for comparison; no claim that it contains this exact maxim.
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The author
For writers & researchers
The World’s Laconics (1853), cited by Wikiquote and LibQuotes.
Quotle.info. “Who really said ‘Rest satisfied with doing well, and leave others to talk of you as they please’?” Last verified 9 Nov 2026. https://quotle.info/who-said/rest-satisfied-with-doing-well-and-leave-others-to-talk-of/