Homer Quotes

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

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

Whoever obeys the gods, to him they particularly listen.

There is a fullness of all things, even of sleep and love.

Miserable mortals who, like leaves, at one moment flame with life, eating the produce of the land, and at another moment weakly perish.

The fates have given mankind a patient soul.

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

Once harm has been done, even a fool understands it.

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

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

Of men who have a sense of honor, more come through alive than are slain, but from those who flee comes neither glory nor any help.

It is not possible to fight beyond your strength, even if you strive.

I detest that man who hides one thing in the depths of his heart, and speaks for another.

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

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

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.

Thus have the gods spun the thread for wretched mortals: that they live in grief while they themselves are without cares; for two jars stand on the floor of Zeus of the gifts which he gives, one of evils and another of blessings.

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

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.

I too shall lie in the dust when I am dead, but now let me win noble renown.

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

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.

You will certainly not be able to take the lead in all things yourself, for to one man a god has given deeds of war, and to another the dance, to another lyre and song, and in another wide-sounding Zeus puts a good mind.

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

It is not unseemly for a man to die fighting in defense of his country.

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

It is entirely seemly for a young man killed in battle to lie mangled by the bronze spear. In his death all things appear fair. But when dogs shame the gray head and gray chin and nakedness of an old man killed, it is the most piteous thing that happens among wretched mortals.

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

A companion`s words of persuasion are effective.

The outcome of the war is in our hands; the outcome of words is in the council.

The gods, likening themselves to all kinds of strangers, go in various disguises from city to city, observing the wrongdoing and the righteousness of men.

Even his griefs are a joy long after to one that remembers all that he wrought and endured.

For rarely are sons similar to their fathers: most are worse, and a few are better than their fathers.

Zeus does not bring all men`s plans to fulfillment.

Dreams surely are difficult, confusing, and not everything in them is brought to pass for mankind. For fleeting dreams have two gates: one is fashioned of horn and one of ivory. Those which pass through the one of sawn ivory are deceptive, bringing tidings which come to nought, but those which issue from the one of polished horn bring true results when a mortal sees them.

A young man is embarrassed to question an older one.

There is a time for many words, and there is also a time for sleep.

Among all men on the earth bards have a share of honor and reverence, because the muse has taught them songs and loves the race of bards.

Evil deeds do not prosper; the slow man catches up with the swift.

The wine urges me on, the bewitching wine, which sets even a wise man to singing and to laughing gently and rouses him up to dance and brings forth words which were better unspoken.