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.

For this is the mark of a wise and upright man, not to rail against the gods in misfortune.

Everyone’s quick to blame the alien.

There are times when fear is good. It must keep its watchful place at the heart’s controls. There is advantage in the wisdom won from pain.

He who goes unenvied shall not be admired.

Only when man’s life comes to its end in prosperity can one call that man happy.

Neither a life of anarchy nor one beneath a despot should you praise; to all that lies in the middle a god has given excellence.

Neither the life of anarchy nor the life enslaved by tyrants, no, worship neither. Strike the balance all in all and god will give you power.

It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath

Be bold and boast, just like the cock beside the hen.

To mourn and bewail your ill-fortune, when you will gain a tear from those who listen, this is worth the trouble.

We must pronounce him fortunate who has ended his life in fair prosperity.

In every tyrant’s heart there springs in the end this poison, that he cannot trust a friend

A prosperous fool is a grievous burden

From a small seed a mighty trunk may grow.

Nothing forces us to knowWhat we do not want to knowExcept pain

God loves to help him who strives to help himself.

A god implants in mortal guilt whenever he wants utterly to confound a house.

If a man suffers ill, let it be without shame; for this is the only profit when we are dead. You will never say a good word about deeds that are evil and disgraceful.

Obedience is the mother of success, and success the parent of salvation.

Zeus, first cause, prime mover; for what thing without Zeus is done among mortals?

I know how men in exile feed on dreams of hope.

Bronze in the mirror of the form, wine of the mind.

I say you must not win an unjust case by oaths.

We shall perish by guile just as we slew.