Who apart from the gods is without pain for his whole lifetime’s length?

He who learns must suffer. And even in our sleep pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the...

Hell to ships, hell to men, hell to cities – of Helen of Troy

Ask the gods nothing excessive.

It is an ill thing to be the first to bring news of ill.

There is no avoidance in delay.

Time as he grows old teaches all things.

The laws of a state change with the changing times

Words are the physicians of a mind diseased.

The anvil of justice is planted firm, and fate who makes the sword does the forging in advance.

When a match has equal partners then I fear not.

Excessive fear is always powerless.

For the impious act begets more after it, like to the parent stock.

You have been trapped in the inescapable net of ruin by your own want of sense.

His resolve is not to seem the bravest, but to be

To be free from evil thoughts is God’s best gift.

Old men are always young enough to learn with profit.

It is best for the wise man not to seem wise.

We only learn wisdom through suffering.

Words are the physicians of a mind diseased

Death is softer by far than tyranny.

Justice turns the scale, bringing to some learning through suffering.

The evils of mortals are manifold; nowhere is trouble of the same wing seen.

Memory is the mother of all wisdom

My friends, whoever has had experience of evils knows how whenever a flood of ills comes upon mortals, a man fears everything; but whenever a divine force cheers on our voyage, then we believe that...

For the poison of hatred seated near the heart doubles the burden for the one who suffers the disease; he is burdened with his own sorrow, and groans on seeing another’s happiness.

I, schooled in misery, know many purifying rites, and I know where speech is proper and where silence.

The wisest of the wise may err.

Too few rejoice at a friend’s good fortune.

I would far rather be ignorant than wise in the foreboding of evil.

Know not to revere human things too much.

Alas, poor men, their destiny. When all goes well a shadow will overthrow it. If it be unkind one stroke of a wet sponge wipes all the picture out; and that is far the most...

Excessive fear is always powerless

Whoever is new to power is always harsh.

In the lack of judgment great harm arises, but one vote cast can set right a house.

The words of truth are simple.

Death is better, a milder fate than tyranny.

The man who does ill must suffer ill.

For there is no defense for a man who, in the excess of his wealth, has kicked the great altar of Justice out of sight.

And though all streams flow from a single course to cleanse the blood from polluted hand, they hasten on their course in vain.

There is no pain so great as the memory of joy in present grief.

In war, truth is the first casualty.

Usually I choose a poem to read, and this year it will be

ATHENA: There are two sides to this dispute. I’ve heard only one half the argument. (…) So you two parties, summon your witnesses, set out your proofs, with sworn evidence to back your stories. Once...

Human prosperity never rests but always craves more, till blown up with pride it totters and falls. From the opulent mansions pointed at by all passers-by none warns it away, none cries, ‘Let no more...

Alas for the affairs of men! When they are fortunate you might compare them to a shadow; and if they are unfortunate, a wet sponge with one dash wipes the picture away.

Whenever a man makes haste, God too hastens with him.

There is no disgrace in an enemy suffering ill at an enemy’s hand, when you hate mutually.

It is easy when we are in prosperity to give advice to the afflicted.

Unions in wedlock are perverted by the victory of shameless passion that masters the female among men and beasts.