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”.
| 17 quotes | 3,275 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. 10 |
| • | Knowing that human happiness never remains long in the same place. Την ανθρωπηίην ων επιστάμενος ευδαιμονίην ουδαμά εν τωυτώ μένουσαν. 9 |
| • | It is better to be envied than pitied. Φθονέεσθαι κρέσσον εστὶ ή οικτείρεσθαι. 8 |
| • | 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. 8 |
| • | Circumstances rule men; men do not rule circumstances. Μάθε ότι αι συμφοραί των ανθρώπων άρχουσι και ουχί άνθρωποι των συμφορέων. 8 |
| • | 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. 7 |
| • | Haste in every business brings failures. Eπειχθήναι μεν νυν παν πρήγμα τίκτει σφάλματα. 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. 6 |
| • | For great wrongdoing there are great punishments from the gods. Των μεγάλων αδικημάτων μεγάλαι εισί και αι τιμωρίαι παρά των θεών. 5 |
| • | God likes to bring low all things of surpassing greatness. Φιλέει γαρ ο θεός τα υπερέχοντα πάντα κολούειν. 5 |
| • | 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. 5 |
| • | When a woman takes off her robe, takes off her shyness as well. Άμα δε τω χιτώνι εκδυομένω, εκδύεται και την αιδώ γυνή. 5 |
| • | Earth and water. Γη και ύδωρ. (the demand of the Persians from the cities which surrendered to them) 4 |
| • | Men trust their ears less than their eyes. Ωτα γαρ τυγχάνει ανθρώποισι εόντα απιστότερα οφθαλμών. 3 |
| • | My men have turned into women and my women into men! Οι μεν άνδρες γεγόνασί μοι γυναίκες, αι δε γυναίκες άνδρες. (words of Xerxes) 3 |
| • | The king’s might is greater than human, and his arm is very long. Δύναμις υπέρ άνθρωπον η βασιλέος εστί και χείρ υπερμήκης. 3 |
| • | Force has no place where there is need of cleverness. Ένθα γαρ σοφίης δέει, βίης έργον ουδέν. 3 |
