Hesiodus Quotes

“A bad neighbor is a misfortune, as much as a good one is a great blessing.”

“A day is sometimes our mother, sometimes our stepmother.”

“A sparing tongue is the greatest treasure among men.”

“Acquisition means life to miserable mortals.”

“Actions from youth, advice from the middle-aged, prayers from the aged.”

“Admire a small ship, but put your freight in a large one; for the larger the load, the greater will be the profit upon profit.”

“An evil plan does mischief to the planner.”

“An income means life to wretched mortals, but it is a terrible fate to die among the waves.”

“Bacteria: The only culture some people have.”

“Best is the man who thinks for himself.”

“Both faith and want of faith have destroyed men alike.”

“Bring a wife home to your house when you are of the right age, not far short of 30 years, nor much above this is the right time for marriage.”

“Do not get a name as overly lavish or too inhospitable.”

“Do not seek dishonest gains: dishonest gains are losses.”

“Drink your fill when the jar is first opened, and when it is nearly done, but be sparing when it is half-empty; it's a poor saving when you come to the dregs.”

“Fallow land is kind to children, and keeps off the hexes.”

“Fools, they do not even know how much more is the half than the whole.”

“Giving is good, but taking is bad and brings death.”

“It is best to do things systematically, since we are only human, and disorder is our worst enemy.”

“Love those who love, in order to be loved by them.”

“That man is best who sees the truth himself. Good too is he who listens to wise counsel. But who is neither wise himself nor willing to ponder wisdom is not worth a straw.”

“The dawn sets man on the road, and also puts him to work.”

“The evil wish is most evil to the wisher.”

“A man can win nothing better than a good wife, and nothing more painful than a bad one.”

“A man fashions ill for himself who fashions ill for another, and the ill design is most ill for the designer.”

“A man who works evil against another works it really against himself, and bad advice is worst for the one who devised it.”

“Better marry a maiden, so you can teach her good manners, and in particular marry one who lives close by you. Look her well over first. Don't marry what will make your neighbors laugh at you, for while there's nothing better a man can win him than a good wife, there's nothing more dismal than a bad one.”

“Do not let any sweet-talking woman beguile your good sense with the fascination of her shape. It's your barn she's after.”

“Do not put all your goods in hollow ships.”

“Do not put your work off till tomorrow and the day after; for a sluggish worker does not fill his barn, nor one who puts off his work: industry makes work go well, but a man who puts off work is always at hand-grips with ruin.”