Theognis of Megara Quotes

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

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

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.

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

He who mistrusts most should be trusted least.

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

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

Bright youth passes swiftly as a thought.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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