Quotes by
Herodotus |
Author of the first great narrative history produced in the ancient world, the Histories about the Greco-Persian Wars. He is often referred to as “The Father of History”.
| 18 quotes | 2,531 visits |
Ancient Greek
| • | When life is so burdensome, death has become a sought after refuge. Ούτω ο μεν θάνατος μοχθηρής εούσης της ζόης καταφυγή αιρετωτάτη τω ανθρώπω γέγονε. 9 |
| • | Knowing that human happiness never remains long in the same place. Την ανθρωπηίην ων επιστάμενος ευδαιμονίην ουδαμά εν τωυτώ μένουσαν. 8 |
| • | Circumstances rule men; men do not rule circumstances. Μάθε ότι αι συμφοραί των ανθρώπων άρχουσι και ουχί άνθρωποι των συμφορέων. 7 |
| • | If a man insisted always on being serious, and never allowed himself a bit of fun and relaxation, he would go mad or become unstable without knowing it. Ει εθέλοι κατεσπουδάσθαι αιεί μηδέ ες παιγνίην το μέρος εωυτόν ανιέναι, λάθοι αν ήτοι μανείς ή ό γε απόπληκτος γενόμενος. 7 |
| • | It is better to be envied than pitied. Φθονέεσθαι κρέσσον εστὶ ή οικτείρεσθαι. 7 |
| • | Nobody is so stupid to choose war instead of peace. Because in peace the children bury their fathers but in war the fathers bury their children. Ουδείς γαρ ούτω ανόητος εστί όστις πόλεμον προ ειρήνης αιρέεται· εν μεν γαρ τη οι παίδες τους πατέρας θάπτουσι, εν δε τω οι πατέρες τους παίδας. 6 |
| • | Of all men’s miseries the bitterest is this: to know so much and to have no power. Εχθίστη δε οδύνη εστί των εν ανθρώποισι αύτη, πολλά φρονέοντα μηδενός κρατέειν. 5 |
| • | Haste in every business brings failures. Eπειχθήναι μεν νυν παν πρήγμα τίκτει σφάλματα. 5 |
| • | You Greeks are always children, and there is no Greek who is old. Έλληνες αεί παίδές εστε, γέρων δε Έλλην ουκ έστιν. (Egyptian priests to Solon) 4 |
| • | When a woman takes off her robe, takes off her shyness as well. Άμα δε το χιτώνι εκδυομένω, εκδύεται και την αιδώ γυνή. 4 |
| • | I am bound to tell what I am told, but not in every case to believe it. Εγώ δε οφείλω λέγειν τα λεγόμενα, πείθεσθαί γε μεν ου παντάπασι οφείλω. 4 |
| • | For great wrongdoing there are great punishments from the gods. Των μεγάλων αδικημάτων μεγάλαι εισί και αι τιμωρίαι παρά των θεών. 4 |
| • | Earth and water. Γη και ύδωρ. (the demand of the Persians from the cities which surrendered to them) 3 |
| • | God likes to bring low all things of surpassing greatness. Φιλέει γαρ ο θεός τα υπερέχοντα πάντα κολούειν. 3 |
| • | Force has no place where there is need of cleverness. Ένθα γαρ σοφίης δέει, βίης έργον ουδέν. 2 |
| • | The king’s might is greater than human, and his arm is very long. Δύναμις υπέρ άνθρωπον η βασιλέος εστί και χείρ υπερμήκης. 2 |
| • | My men have turned into women and my women into men! Οι μεν άνδρες γεγόνασί μοι γυναίκες, αι δε γυναίκες άνδρες. (words of Xerxes) 2 |
| • | Men trust their ears less than their eyes. Ωτα γαρ τυγχάνει ανθρώποισι εόντα απιστότερα οφθαλμών. 2 |
