Homer (800 BC-700 BC)

Quotes

• Men grow tired of sleep, love, singing and dancing, sooner than war.

• Such was the burial they gave to Hector, tamer of horses.

• Sing, Muse, of the anger of Achilles, son of Peleus...

• Do thou restrain the haughty spirit in thy breast, for better far is gentle courtesy.

• It is equally offensive to speed a guest who would like to stay and to detain one who is anxious to leave.

• He knew the things that were and the things that would be and the things that had been before.

• If you are very valiant, it is a god, I think, who gave you this gift.

• Whoever obeys the gods, to him they particularly listen.

• A councilor ought not to sleep the whole night through, a man to whom the populace is entrusted, and who has many responsibilities.

• A multitude of rulers is not a good thing. Let there be one ruler, one king.

• The glorious gifts of the gods are not to be cast aside.

• Young men's minds are always changeable, but when an old man is concerned in a matter, he looks both before and after.

• He lives not long who battles with the immortals, nor do his children prattle about his knees when he has come back from battle and the dread fray.

• A generation of men is like a generation of leaves; the wind scatters some leaves upon the ground, while others the burgeoning wood brings forth - and the season of spring comes on. So of men one generation springs forth and another ceases.

• Hateful to me as the gates of Hades is that man who hides one thing in his heart and speaks another.

• Even when someone battles hard, there is an equal portion for one who lingers behind, and in the same honor are held both the coward and the brave man; the idle man and he who has done much meet death alike.

• A companion's words of persuasion are effective.

• It was built against the will of the immortal gods, and so it did not last for long.

• The single best augury is to fight for one's country.

• There is a strength in the union even of very sorry men.