Final answer:
Sophocles emphasized the importance of integrity, suggesting it is preferable to maintain honor in failure than to achieve success through dishonest means. This reflects the Greek values of public excellence and personal responsibility, where honor is paramount even in the face of tragic outcomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Sophocles said, "Better to fail with honor than succeed by fraud," he highlighted an essential principle regarding the value of integrity over deceitful achievements. To the Greeks, public performance and reputation were critical, and achieving excellence was paramount. However, there was an understanding that this pursuit should not be tainted by dishonorable methods. Sophocles, in his tragedies, often depicted heroes who, despite their flaws, maintained their honor and took responsibility for their actions, rather than resort to deceit or excuses. His characters, like Oedipus, showed that accepting one's mistakes and dealing with the consequences was more respectable than achieving success through dishonest means. This principle was not only a matter of personal ethics but also related to the societal ideals of the Greeks, who esteemed the public display of excellence and would deride and mock those who failed to achieve it.
In essence, for a Greek hero, even in the face of tragic fate or the actions of the gods, maintaining one's honor was paramount. Thus, Sophocles' assertion underscores that the integrity of one's character and the recognition of personal responsibility ultimately define one's true success, far above any fraudulent or dishonorable gain.