Quotes by
Hesiod |
An early Greek poet, who have lived between 750 and 650 BC, around the same time as Homer. He is called the “father of Greek didactic poetry.”Two of his complete epics have survived, the Theogony, relating the myths of the gods, and the Works and Days, describing peasant life.
| 27 quotes | 2,438 visits |
Ancient Greek
| • | The evil decision is most evil for him who takes it. Η δε κακή βουλή τω βουλεύσαντι κακίστη. — Works and Days -266 19 |
| • | In the beginning there was chaos. Ή τοι μεν πρώτιστα Χάος γένετο. — Theogony -116 17 |
| • | It is not possible to deceive or ignore the will of Zeus. Ως ουκ έστι Διός κλέψαι νόον ουδέ παρελθείν. — Theogony -613 10 |
| • | Actions of the young, decisions of the middle-aged, wishes of the old. Έργα νέων, βουλαί δε μέσων ευχαί δε γερόντων. 9 |
| • | Sometimes the day is a step mother, sometimes a mother. Άλλοτε μηρτυιή πέλει ημέρη, άλλοτε μήτηρ. — Works and Days -825 8 |
| • | Marry a virgin, so that you can teach her the right manners. Παρθενικήν δε γαμείν, ως κ’ ήθεα κεδνά διδάξης. — Works and Days -699 7 |
| • | The eye of Zeus seeing all and understanding all. Πάντα ιδών Διός οφθαλμός και πάντα νοήσας. — Works and Days -267 7 |
| • | Do not put your work off till tomorrow and the day after. Μηδ᾽ αναβάλλεσθαι ες τ᾽ αύριον ες τε ένηφιν. — Works and Days -410 7 |
| • | The gods have placed sweat before value. Αρετής προπάροιθε ιδρώτα θεοί αθάνατοι θήκαν. — Works and Days -289 6 |
| • | There is nothing better than a good wife. Ού μεν γαρ τι γυναικός άμεινον αγαθής. — Works and Days -702 5 |
| • | Observe due measure, for right timing is in all things the most important factor. Μέτρα φυλάσσεσθαι· καιρός δ᾽ επί πάσιν άριστος. — Works and Days -694 5 |
| • | Work is no disgrace: it is idleness which is a disgrace. Έργον δ’ ουδέν όνειδος, αεργίη δε τ’ όνειδος. — Works and Days -311 4 |
| • | Fools, they do not even know how much more is the half than the whole. Νήπιοι, ουδέ ίσασιν όσω πλέον ήμισυ παντός. — Works and Days -40 4 |
| • | For trust and mistrust, alike ruin men. Πίστεις αρ τοι ομώς και απιστίαι ώλεσαν άνδρας. — Works and Days -372 4 |
| • | Neither being far short of thirty years nor much above; this is the right time for marriage. Μήτε τριηκόντων ετέων μάλα πολλ᾽ απολείπων μητ᾽ επιθείς μάλα πολλά· γάμος δε τοι ώριος ούτος. — Works and Days -695 4 |
| • | It will not always be summer, build barns. Ουκ αεί θέρος εσσείται, ποιείσθε καλιάς. — Works and Days -503 3 |
| • | Peace is raising sons in this world. Ειρήνη ανά γην κουροτρόφος. — Works and Days -228 3 |
| • | Bad reputation is grievous to bear and hard to get rid of. Φήμη... κακή αργαλέη φέρει, χαλεπόν δ’ αποθέσθαι. — Works and Days -762 3 |
| • | Potter bears a grudge against potter, and craftsman against craftsman, and beggar is envious of beggar, and bard of bard. Και κεραμεύς κεραμεί κοτέει και τέκτονι τέκτων και πτωχός πτωχώ φθονέει και αοιδός αοιδώ. — Works and Days -26 3 |
| • | Other countless plagues, wander amongst men; for earth is full of evils and the sea is full. Άλλα δε μυρία λυγρά κατ’ ανθρώπους αλάληται· πλείη μεν γαρ γαία κακών, πλείη δε θάλασσα. — Works and Days -101 3 |
| • | Praise a small ship, but put your freight in a large one. Μικρήν νήα αινείν, μεγάλη δ’ ενί φορτία θέσθαι. — Works and Days -643 3 |
| • | Often an entire city has suffered because of an evil man. Πολλάκι και ξύμπασα πόλις κακού ανδρός απηύρα. — Works and Days -240 2 |
| • | For in misery men grow old quickly. Αίψα γαρ εν κακότητι βροτοί καταγηράσκουσιν. — Works and Days -93 2 |
| • | Wealth should not be seized; god-given wealth is much better. Χρήματα δ᾽ ουχ αρπακτά. Θεόσδοτα πολλόν αμείνω. — Works and Days -320 2 |
| • | Do not seek evil gains; evil gains are the equivalent of disaster. Μη κακά κερδαίνειν: κακά κέρδεα ισ᾽ αάτησιν. — Works and Days -352 2 |
| • | If you should put even a little on a little, and should do this often, soon this too would become big. Ει γαρ κεν και σμικρόν επί σμικρώ καταθείο και θαμά τούτ᾽ έρδοις, τάχα κεν μέγα και το γένοιτο. — Works and Days -361 2 |
| • | The best treasure a man can have is a sparing tongue. Γλώσσης τοι θησαυρός εν ανθρώποισιν άριστος φειδωλής. — Works and Days -719 2 |
