Maxime tamen curavit notitiam historiae fabularis usque ad ineptias atque derisum; nam et grammaticos, quod genus hominum praecipue, ut diximus, appetebat, eius modi fere quaestionibus experiebatur: 'Quae mater Hecubae, quod Achilli nomen inter virgines fuisset, quid Sirenes cantare sint solitae.'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- He cared more about the fame of mythic history than about stupidity and ridicule; grammarians, who loved such people, asked questions like 'What was Hecuba’s mother, why was Achilles’s name among virgins, what did the Sirens usually sing?'
- In plain terms
- He valued legendary history over folly, prompting scholars to ask odd mythic questions.
- What can you take from it?
- Obsession with myth can distract from practical knowledge.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How does mythic focus affect decision‑making?
- When is myth useful versus harmful?
Another view
The quote is vague about the speaker’s intent.
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