23 Theognis of Megara Quotes

Theognis of Megara quotes

1. One finds many companions for food and drink, but in a serious business a man's companions are few.

2. Even to a wicked man a divinity gives wealth, Cyrus, but to few men comes the gift of excellence.

3. Surfeit begets insolence, when prosperity comes to a bad man.

4. Adopt the character of the twisting octopus, which takes on the appearance of the nearby rock. Now follow in this direction, now turn a different hue.

5. The best of all things for earthly men is not to be born and not to see the beams of the bright sun; but if born, than as quickly as possible to pass the gates of Hades, and to lie deep buried.

6. Wine is wont to show the mind of man.

   Attribution disputed; shown as originally published.

7. No man takes with him to Hades all his exceeding wealth.

8. Bright youth passes swiftly as a thought.

1. He who mistrusts most should be trusted least.

2. Ram, ass, and horse, my Kyrnos, we look over With care, and seek good stock for good to cover; And yet the best men make no argument, But wed, for money, runts of poor descent. So too a woman will demean her state And spurn the better for the richer mate. Money's the cry. Good stock to bad is wed And bad to good, till all the world's cross-bred. No wonder if the country's breed declines- Mixed metal, Kyrnos, that but dimly shines.

3. Ploutos , no wonder mortals worship you: You are so tolerant of their sins !

4. Too many tongues have gates which fly apart Too easily, and care for many things That don't concern them.

5. Not to be born at all would be the best thing for man.

6. The greatest treasure you can leave your children is a sense of modesty and the advice to follow virtuous persons.

7. When we are dead; rugs are no richer than a quick-thorn bed.

8. Boy, you're like a horse. Just now sated with seed, You've come back to my stable, Yearning for a good rider, fine meadow, An icy spring, shady groves.

9. Unless the gods deceive my mind , That man is forging fetters for himself.

10. Restrain thy mind, and let mildness ever attend thy tongue.

11. Rash, angry words, and spoken out of season, When passion has usurp'd the throne of reason, Have ruin'd many. Passion is unjust, And for an idle, transitory gust Of gratified revenge, dooms us to pay With long repentance at a later day.

12. To many men well-fitting doors are not set on their tongues.

13. Fairly examined, truly understood, No man is wholly bad, nor wholly good.

14. “Happy the lover who exercises, then Goes home to sleep all day with a handsome boy.”

15. “Whatever fate ordains, danger or hurt, or death predetermined, nothing can avert.”