Quotes from Homer

Of all the creatures that breathe and creep about on Mother Earth there is none so helpless as man. As long as the gods grant him prosperity and health he imagines he will never suffer misfortune in the future. Yet when the blessed gods bring him troubles he has no choice but to endure them with a patient heart. The reason is that the view we mortals take of this earthly life depends on what Zeus, the Father of gods and men, sends us day by day.

Come— the proof of battle is action, proof of words, debate. No time for speeches now, it's time to fight.

Telemachus hurled his arms round his father, and he wept. They both felt deep desire for lamentation, and wailed with cries as shrill as birds, like eagles or vultures, when the hunters have deprived them of fledglings who have not yet learned to fly. That was how bitterly they wept.

around the country, fill your belly well Ã¢â'¬â€

L. 547. The terms made use of in this line, and in 481, may appear somewhat coarse, as addressed by one Goddess to another: but I assure the English reader that in this passage

Men come and go as leaves year by year upon the trees. Those of autumn the wind sheds upon the ground, but when spring returns the forest buds forth with fresh vines. Even so is it with the generations of mankind, the new spring up as the old are passing away

L. 151. Chthizos, yesterday. But either the word must have a more extended signification than is usually given to it, or Homer must here have fallen into an error; for two complete nights and one day, that on which Patroclus met his death, had intervened since the visit of Ajax and

Not at all similar are the race of the immortal gods and the race of men who walk upon the earth

Heroes, be men; be what you were before; Or weigh the great occasion, and be more.

it is the cowards who walk out of the fighting, but if one is to win honor in battle, he must by all means 410  stand his ground strongly, whether he be struck or strike down another.

Intet kan knekke en mann som havet, om han er aldri så sprek.

In this way, the Odyssey's hero embodies one of its central themes, which is that the capacity to defer satisfaction and endure suffering is as necessary for success as the ability to perform brilliant feats.

The evil plan is most harmful to the planner

El vino aumenta mucho el vigor del hombre fatigado

Perverse mankind! whose wills, created free, Charge all their woes on absolute degree; All to the dooming gods their guilt translate, And follies are miscall'd the crimes of fate.

Show yourselves men my friends, and keep a stout heart. Think of your honour. With all men's eyes upon you it is a shame to be a coward. He that fights and will not run may live to see another sun. He that runs and will not fight is bound to die and serves him right.

Prophet of evil,' he cried, 'never have you said a word to my advantage. It is always trouble that you revel in foretelling.

No finer, greater gift in the world than that...when man and woman possess their home, two minds, two hearts that work as one.

Homer's language is markedly rhythmical, but it is not difficult or ostentatious. The Odyssey relies on coordinated, not subordinated syntax (" and then this, and then this, and then this," rather than "although this, because of that, when this, which was this, on account of that").

Poor Andromache! Why does your heart sorrow so much for me? No man is going to hurl me to Hades, unless it is fated, but as for fate, I think no man has yet escaped it once it has taken its first form, neither brave man nor coward.

The business of wretches is wretched even in guarantee giving.

When Achilles heard this he sank into the black depths of despair. He picked up the dark dust in both his hands and poured it on his head...he cast himself down on the earth and lay there like a fallen giant, fouling his hair and tearing it out with his own hands...[the maidservants] beat their breasts with their hands and sank to the ground beside their royal master.

As in dark forests, measureless along the crests of hills, a conflagration soars, and the bright bed of fire glows for miles, now fiery lights from this great host in bronze played on the earth and flashed high into heaven.

Stand strong, my heart; through even worse pain you have suffered. (??????? ??, ??????· ??? ???????? ???? ???? ?????.) Odyssey, Rhapsody 20:18