Aeschylus Quotes

I have learned to hate all traitors, and there is no disease that I spit on more than treachery.

- Aeschylus

It is in the character of very few men to honor without envy a friend who has prospered.

- Aeschylus

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.

- Aeschylus

Don't you know this, that words are doctors to a diseased temperment?

- Aeschylus

Words are the physicians of a mind diseased.

- Aeschylus

Since long I've held silence a remedy for harm.

- Aeschylus

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 the same fate will always blow fair.

- Aeschylus

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

- Aeschylus

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

- Aeschylus

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.

- Aeschylus

It is a light thing for whoever keeps his foot outside trouble to advise and counsel him that suffers.

- Aeschylus

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

- Aeschylus

Of prosperity mortals can never have enough.

- Aeschylus

If you pour oil and vinegar into the same vessel, you would call them not friends but opponents.

- Aeschylus

What is there more kindly than the feeling between host and guest?

- Aeschylus

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

- Aeschylus

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.

- Aeschylus

Destiny waits alike for the free man as well as for him enslaved by another's might.

- Aeschylus

Excessive fear is always powerless.

- Aeschylus

But time growing old teaches all things.

- Aeschylus

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

- Aeschylus

It is always in season for old men to learn.

- Aeschylus

It is good even for old men to learn wisdom.

- Aeschylus

From a small seed a mighty trunk may grow.

- Aeschylus

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

- Aeschylus

I willingly speak to those who know, but for those who do not know I forget.

- Aeschylus

For a murderous blow let murderous blow atone.

- Aeschylus

Self-will in the man who does not reckon wisely is by itself the weakest of all things.

- Aeschylus

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.

- Aeschylus

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

- Aeschylus

And one who is just of his own free will shall not lack for happiness; and he will never come to utter ruin.

- Aeschylus

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

- Aeschylus

There are times when fear is good. It must keep its watchful place at the heart's controls.

- Aeschylus

Ah, lives of men! When prosperous they glitter - Like a fair picture; when misfortune comes - A wet sponge at one blow has blurred the painting.

- Aeschylus

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

- Aeschylus

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 awful grace of God.

- Aeschylus

The man whose authority is recent is always stern.

- Aeschylus

Too few rejoice at a friend's good fortune.

- Aeschylus

Time brings all things to pass.

- Aeschylus

Time as he grows old teaches all things.

- Aeschylus

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

- Aeschylus

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

- Aeschylus

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

- Aeschylus

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

- Aeschylus

God always strives together with those who strive.

- Aeschylus

I would rather be ignorant than knowledgeable of evils.

- Aeschylus

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

- Aeschylus

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

- Aeschylus

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

- Aeschylus

It is an easy thing for one whose foot is on the outside of calamity to give advice and to rebuke the sufferer.

- Aeschylus

It is a profitable thing, if one is wise, to seem foolish.

- Aeschylus

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

- Aeschylus

What atonement is there for blood spilt upon the earth?

- Aeschylus

The wisest of the wise may err.

- Aeschylus

Happiness is a choice that requires effort at times.

- Aeschylus

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

- Aeschylus

Know not to revere human things too much.

- Aeschylus

Only when a man's life comes to its end in prosperity dare we pronounce him happy.

- Aeschylus

God lends a helping hand to the man who tries hard.

- Aeschylus

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

- Aeschylus

Married love between man and woman is bigger than oaths guarded by right of nature.

- Aeschylus

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

- Aeschylus

When strength is yoked with justice, where is a mightier pair than they?

- Aeschylus

Of all the gods only death does not desire gifts.

- Aeschylus

When a match has equal partners then I fear not.

- Aeschylus

Death is easier than a wretched life; and better never to have born than to live and fare badly.

- Aeschylus

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

- Aeschylus

By polluting clear water with slime you will never find good drinking water.

- Aeschylus

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

- Aeschylus

God's most lordly gift to man is decency of mind.

- Aeschylus

I know how men in exile feed on dreams.

- Aeschylus

For hostile word let hostile word be paid.

- Aeschylus

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.

- Aeschylus

What exists outside is a man's concern; let no woman give advice; and do no mischief within doors.

- Aeschylus

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

- Aeschylus

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

- Aeschylus

Everyone's quick to blame the alien.

- Aeschylus

Search well and be wise, nor believe that self-willed pride will ever be better than good counsel.

- Aeschylus

The one knowing what is profitable, and not the man knowing many things, is wise.

- Aeschylus

Mourn for me rather as living than as dead.

- Aeschylus

When a man's willing and eager the god's join in.

- Aeschylus

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

- Aeschylus

By Time and Age full many things are taught.

- Aeschylus

Obedience is the mother of success and is wedded to safety.

- Aeschylus

For children preserve the fame of a man after his death.

- Aeschylus

Whoever is new to power is always harsh.

- Aeschylus

What good is it to live a life that brings pains?

- Aeschylus

He who goes unenvied shall not be admired.

- Aeschylus

There is no sickness worse for me than words that to be kind must lie.

- Aeschylus

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

- Aeschylus

God loves to help him who strives to help himself.

- Aeschylus

We shall perish by guile just as we slew.

- Aeschylus

The man who does ill must suffer ill.

- Aeschylus

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

- Aeschylus

For somehow this disease inheres in tyranny, never to trust one's friends.

- Aeschylus

For know that no one is free, except Zeus.

- Aeschylus

Who, except the gods, can live time through forever without any pain?

- Aeschylus

Death is softer by far than tyranny.

- Aeschylus

Memory is the mother of all wisdom.

- Aeschylus

Wisdom comes alone through suffering.

- Aeschylus