Aeschylus Quotes

The sleeping brain has eyes that give us light; we can never see our destiny by day.

We call on the gods, and the gods well know
what storms torment us, sailors whirled to nothing.
But if we are to live and reach the haven,
one small seed could grow a mighty tree -

A curse burns bright on crime.

Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering

The brave heart is called to school itself
In slow endurance against
Griefs that strike deep into the bosom

Shameless self-willed infatuation
Emboldens men to dare damnation,
And starts the wheels of doom which roll
Relentless to their piteous goal.

This is a sickness rooted and inherent in the nature of a tyranny: that he that holds it does not trust his friends.

لا توافق على العيش في ظل الفوضى، ولا في ظل الاستبداد

I have not need to promise what I cannot do.

لا يمكن أن يقال إنه لا يحق للمرء أن يأخذ العدالة بيده، كما يقال في هذه الأيام، لأن العدالة إما أن تطبق على جميع الجرائم، أو لاتطبق أبدا . وفي هذه الحالة الأخيرة يحق لمن وقع عليه الأذى أن يأخذ العدالة بيده فيقابل الشر بالشر دون أن يسرف

Cry Sorrow, sorrow — yet let good prevail.

Old men are always young enough to learn, with profit.

and life beats on, and
we nurse our lives with tears,
to the sound of ripping linen beat our robes in sorrow,
close to the breast the beats throb
and laughter's gone and fortune throbs and throbs.

My father, father!' - she might pray to the winds;
no innocence moves her judges mad for war.
Her father called his henchmen on,
on with a prayer,
'Host her over the alter
like a yearling, give it all your strength!
She's fainting - lift her,
sweep her robes around her,
but slip this strap in her gentle curving lips...
here, gag her hard, a sound will curse the house'-
and the bridle chokes her voice... her saffron robes
pouring over the sand
her glance like arrows showering
wounding every murderer through with pity
clear as a picture, live,
she strains to call their names...
I remember often the days with father's guests
when over the feast her voice unbroken,
purees the home her loving father
bearing third libations, sang to Saving Zeus -
transfixed with joy, Atreus' offspring
throbbing out their love.

"No mortal can complete his life unharmed and unpunished throughout — ah ah! Some troubles are here now, some will come later." Chorus, Aeschylus' "Eumenides" from the Oresteia