Homer (born: c. 8th cent. BC) was an ancient Greek author and epic poet. He is the presumed author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, the two epic poems that are the foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is the earliest poet in Western culture whose works have survived intact.
Top 10 Famous Homer Quotes
Of all creatures that breathe and move upon the earth, nothing is bred that is weaker than man.Yet, taught by time, my heart has learned to glow for other's good, and melt at other's woe.There is nothing nobler or more admirable than when two people who see eye to eye keep house as man and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends.There is the heat of Love, the pulsing rush of Longing, the lover’s whisper, irresistible—magic to make the sanest man go mad.There is a time for many words, and there is also a time for sleep.Hateful to me as the gates of Hades is that man who hides one thing in his heart and speaks another.A man who has been through bitter experiences and travelled far enjoys even his sufferings after a time.Any moment might be our last. Everything is more beautiful because we're doomed. You will never be lovelier than you are now. We will never be here again.After the event, even a fool is wise.Let me not then die ingloriously and without a struggle, but let me first do some great thing that shall be told among men hereafter.
8 Homer Quotes on Friendships
The difficulty is not so great to die for a friend, as to find a friend worth dying for.Nothing shall I, while sane, compare with a friend.A sympathetic friend can be quite as dear as a brother.True friends appear less moved than counterfeit.Two friends, two bodies with one soul inspired.For a friend with an understanding heart is worth no less than a brother.A decent boldness ever meets with friends.To have a great man for an intimate friend seems pleasant to those who have never tried it; those who have, fear it.
9 Wise Homer Quotes
Wise to resolve, and patient to perform.In youth and beauty, wisdom is but rare!Light is the task where many share the toil.How prone to doubt, how cautious are the wise!Some things you will think of yourself, some things God will put into your mind.If you serve too many masters, you'll soon suffer.Everything flows and nothing stays.Too many kings can ruin an army.Because they're stupid, that's why. That's why everybody does everything.
3 Homer Quotes on Youth
Young people are thoughtless as a rule.Young men's minds are always changeable, but when an old man is concerned in a matter, he looks both before and after.Youth is quick in feeling but weak in judgement.
6 Homer Quotes on Sleep and Death
Sleep and death, who are twin brothers.So, surrender to sleep at last. What a misery, keeping watch through the night, wide awake — you’ll soon come up from under all your troubles.Even where sleep is concerned, too much is a bad thing.Sleep, delicious and profound, the very counterfeit of death.Death submits to no one.
Come, friend, you too must die. Why moan about it so? Even Patroclus died, a far, far better man than you. And look, you see how handsome and powerful I am? The son of a great man, the mother who gave me life a deathless goddess. But even for me, I tell you, death and the strong force of fate are waiting. There will come a dawn or sunset or high noon when a man will take my life in battle too— flinging a spear perhaps or whipping a deadly arrow off his bow.
Homer
3 Homer Quotes About Lies
The stars never lie, but the astrologers lie about the stars.Urge him with truth to frame his fair replies And sure he will for Wisdom never lies.I didn’t lie! I just created fiction with my mouth!
10 Inspirational Homer Quotes
And what he greatly thought, he nobly dared.Always to be best, and distinguished above the rest.Be strong, saith my heart; I am a soldier; I have seen worse sights than this.Be both a speaker of words and a doer of deeds.Each man delights in the work that suits him best.The journey is its own reward.Even his griefs are a joy long after to one that remembers all that he wrought and endured.The force of union conquers all.Go on with a spirit that fears nothing.Trying is the first step toward failure.
8 Homer Quotes About Life
Life is largely a matter of expectation.It's disgraceful how these humans blame the gods. They say their tribulations come from us, when they themselves, through their own foolishness, bring hardships which are not decreed by Fate.I guess some people never change... Or, they quickly change and then quickly change back.
Like the generations of leaves, the lives of mortal men. Now the wind scatters the old leaves across the earth, now the living timber bursts with the new buds and spring comes round again. And so with men: as one generation comes to life, another dies away.
Homer
Without a sign, his sword the brave man draws, and asks no omen, but his country's cause.For rarely are sons similar to their fathers: most are worse, and a few are better than their fathers.No man or woman born, coward or brave, can shun his destiny.No one can hurry me down to Hades before my time, but if a man's hour is come, be he brave or be he coward, there is no escape for him when he has once been born.
23 Homer Quotes That Make You Think
To be loved, you have to be nice to people, everyday. But to be hated, you don't have to do squat!The man who acts the least, upbraids the most.Noble and manly music invigorates the spirit, strengthens the wavering man, and incites him to great and worthy deeds.We men are wretched things.It is not possible to fight beyond your strength, even if you strive.Why so much grief for me? No man will hurl me down to Death, against my fate. And fate? No one alive has ever escaped it, neither brave man nor coward, I tell you - it’s born with us the day that we are born.Sing, O muse, of the rage of Achilles, son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans.I’m in a place where I don’t know where I am!It is not good to have a rule of many.The blade itself incites to deeds of violence.Wine sets even a thoughtful man to singing, or sets him into softly laughing, sets him to dancing. Sometimes it tosses out a word that was better unspoken.Beauty! Terrible Beauty! A deathless Goddess – so she strikes our eyes!Few sons are like their fathers—most are worse, few better.Why cover the same ground again? ... It goes against my grain to repeat a tale told once, and told so clearly.Why have you come to me here, dear heart, with all these instructions? I promise you I will do everything just as you ask. But come closer. Let us give in to grief, however briefly, in each other's arms.There is nothing alive more agonized than man, of all that breathe and crawl across the earth.Wine can of their wits the wise beguile, Make the sage frolic, and the serious smile.Nay if even in the house of Hades the dead forget their dead, yet will I even there be mindful of my dear comrade.He knew how to say many false things that were like true sayings.
Now from his breast into his eyes the ache of longing mounted, and he wept at last, his dear wife, clear and faithful, in his arms, longed for as the sun warmed earth is longed for by a swimmer spent in rough waters where his ship went down under Poseidon’s blows, gale winds and tons of sea. Few men can crawl, clotted with brine, on kindly beaches in joy, in joy, knowing the abyss behind: and she too rejoiced, her gaze on her husband, her white arms round him pressed as though forever.
Homer
Bear patiently, my heart, for you have suffered heavier things.A guest never forgets the host who has treated him kindly.Modesty is of no use to a beggar.
