Hesiod Quotes

I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on the frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words. When I was a boy, we were taught to be discrete and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise and impatient of restraint.

Never make a companion equal to a brother.

It is not possible either to trick or escape the mind of Zeus.

Do not let a flattering woman coax and wheedle you and deceive you; she is after your barn.

Observe due measure, for right timing is in all things the most important factor.

Love, who is most beautiful among the immortal gods, the melter of limbs, overwhelms in their hearts the intelligence and wise counsel of all gods and all men.

The artist envies what the arties gains, The bard the rival bard's successful strains.

It will not always be summer: build barns.

Badness you can get easily, in quantity. The road is smooth and lies close by. But in front of excellence the immortal gods have put sweat, and long and steep is the way to do it, and rough at first. But when you come to the top, then it is easy, even though it is hard.

Happy is the man whom the Muses love: sweet speech flows from his mouth.

Bacteria: The only culture some people have.

If you add a little to a little and do this often, soon the little will become great.

He harms himself who does harm to another, and the evil plan is most harmful to the planner.

Only fools need suffer to learn.

Before the gates of excellence the high gods have placed sweat; long is the road thereto and rough and steep at first; but when the heights are reached, then there is ease, though grievously hard in the winning.

Do not let any sweet-talking woman beguile your good sense with the fascinations of her shape. It's your barn she's after.

The man who procrastinates struggles with ruin.

The Gods rank work above virtues.

Timeliness is best in all matters.

Do not put your work off till to-morrow and the day after; for a sluggish worker does not fill his barn, nor one who puts off his work: industry makes work go well, but a man who puts off work is always at hand-grips with ruin.

Whoever has trusted a woman has trusted deceivers.

In front of excellence, the immortal gods have put sweat, and long and steep is the way to it.

He is senseless who would match himself against a stronger man; for he is deprived of victory and adds suffering to disgrace.

They are fools who do not know how much the half exceeds the whole.

Far best is he who is himself all-wise, and he, too, good who listens to wise words; But whoso is not wise or lays to hear another's wisdom is a useless man.

Inhibition is no good provider for a needy man

The man who does evil to another does evil to himself, and the evil counsel is most evil for him who counsels it.

Aerial spirits, by great Jove design'd To be on earth the guardians of mankind: Invisible to mortal eyes they go, And mark our actions, good or bad, below: The immortal spies with watchful care preside, And thrice ten thousand round their charges glide: They can reward with glory or with gold, A power they by Divine permission hold.

He is a fool who tries to match his strength with the stronger.

Love, the fairest among the undying gods, who loosens the limbs of all gods and men, conquers resolve and prudent counsel within the breast.

It is best to do things systematically, since we are only human, and disorder is our worst enemy.

Long exercise, my friend, inures the mind; And what we once disliked we pleasing find.

Often even a whole city suffers for a bad man who sins and contrives presumptuous deeds.

You trust a thief when you trust a woman.

Work is not a shame. Laziness is a shame.

In the morning of like, work; in the midday, give counsel; in the evening, pray.

Justice prevails over transgression when she comes to the end of the race.

A bad neighbor is a misfortune, as much as a good one is a great blessing.

But they who give straight judgements to strangers and to those of the land and do not transgress what is just, for them the city flourishes and its people prosper.

Best is the man who thinks for himself.

When you deal with your brother, be pleasant, but get a witness.

Toil is no source of shame; idleness is shame.

For both faith and want of faith have destroyed men alike.

So the people will pay the penalty for their kings' presumption, who, by devising evil, turn justice from her path with tortuous speech.

Money is life to us wretched mortals.

If you speak evil, you will soon be worse spoken of.

Do not seek evil gains; evil gains are the equivalent of disaster

A sparing tongue is the greatest treasure among men.

Gossip and rumor are evil; easy to lift up, heavy to carry, and hard to put down again.

At the beginning of the cask and the end take thy fill but be saving in the middle; for at the bottom the savings comes too late.