Aristophanes Quotes

Chorus [of Birds]: Full of wiles, full of guile, at all times, in all ways, are the children of Men. (tr. in Bartlett 1968, p. 91 or Archive.org)

— ¿De verdad crees en los dioses? — Yo sí. — ¿En qué te basas? — En que me aborrecen. ¿No es un indicio verosímil?

Queste donne micidiali, non si può vivere nè con loro nè senza di loro.

Sosias: The love of wine is a good man's failing. (tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus)

Soc. For, in fact, these alone are goddesses; and all
the rest is nonsense.
Strep. But come, by the Earth, is not Jupiter, the
Olympian, a god?
Soc. What Jupiter? Do not trifle. There is no Jupiter.
Strep. What do you say? Who rains then? For first of all
explain this to me.
Soc. These to be sure. I will teach you it by powerful
evidence. Come, where have you ever seen him raining at
any time without Clouds? And yet he ought to rain in
fine weather, and these be absent.
Strep. By Apollo, of a truth you have rightly confirmed
this by your present argument. And yet, before this, I
really thought that Jupiter caused the rain. But tell me
who is it that thunders. This makes me tremble.
Soc. These, as they roll, thunder.
Strep. In what way? you all-daring man!
Soc. When they are full of much water, and are compelled
to be borne along, being necessarily precipitated when
full of rain, then they fall heavily upon each other and
burst and clap.
Strep. Who is it that compels them to borne along? Is it
not Jupiter?
Soc. By no means, but aethereal Vortex.
Strep. Vortex? It had escaped my notice that Jupiter did
not exist, and that Vortex now reigned in his stead.

Poet: “Straton wanders among the Scythian nomads, but has no linen garment. He is sad at only wearing an animal's pelt and no tunic.” Do you get what I mean? Pisthetaerus: I understand that you want me to offer you a tunic. Hi! you (To the acolyte.) take off yours; we must help the poet. (tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus)

Lysistrata: [...] I will not allow either lover or husband -
Myrrhine: I will not allow either lover or husband -
Lysistrata: - to approach me in a state of erection. Go on!
Myrrhine: - to approach me in - a state of - erection [...]
Lysistrata: And I will live at home in unsullied chastity -
Myrrhine: And I will live at home in unsullied chastity -
Lysistrata: - wearing my saffron gown and my sexiest make-up
Myrrhine: - wearing my saffron gown and my sexiest make-up
Lysistrata: - to inflame my husband's ardour.
Myrrhine: - to inflame my husband's ardour.
Lysistrata: But I will never willingly yield myself to him.
Myrrhine: But I will never willingly yield myself to him.
Lysistrata: And should he rape me by force against my will -
Myrrhine: And should he rape me by force against my will -
Lysistrata: - I will submit passively and will not thrust back.
Myrrhine: - I will submit passively and will not thrust back.
Lysistrata: I will not raise my slippers towards the ceiling.
Myrrhine: I will not raise my slippers towards the ceiling.
Lysistrata: I will not adopt the lioness-on-a-cheesegrater position.
Myrrhine: I will not adopt the lioness-on-a-cheesegrater position.
Lysistrata: If I abide by this oath, may I drink from this [wine] cup.
Myrrhine: If I abide by this oath, may I drink from this [wine] cup.
Lysistrata: But if I break it, may the cup be filled with water.
Myrrhine: But if I break it, may the cup be filled with water.

However, in the view of many Athenians he had, in effect, stolen the credit from Demosthenes. This point is frequently mentioned in the play. Knights was awarded first prize in the drama competition at the Lenaea festival in 424 BC.

Epops: You're mistaken: men of sense often learn from their enemies. Prudence is the best safeguard. This principle cannot be learned from a friend, but an enemy extorts it immediately. It is from their foes, not their friends, that cities learn the lesson of building high walls and ships of war. And this lesson saves their children, their homes, and their properties. Chorus [leader]: It appears then that it will be better for us to hear what they have to say first; for one may learn something at times even from one's enemies. (tr. Anon. 1812 rev. in Ramage 1864, p. 45)

Socrates: So now you won't acknowledge any gods except the ones we do — Chaos, the Clouds, the Tongue — just these three?
Strepsiades: Absolutely — I'd refuse to talk to any other gods,
if I ran into them — and I decline
to sacrifice or pour libations to them.
I'll not provide them any incense...

I want to twist all legal verdicts in my favor,
to evade my creditors.

Chorus Leader: You'll get that, just what you desire. For what you want is nothing special. So be confident — give yourself over to our agents here.

Strepsiades:
I'll do that — I'll place my trust in you. Necessity is weighing me down — the horses, those thoroughbreds, my marriage — all that has worn me out. So now, this body of mine I'll give to them, with no strings attached, to do with as they like — to suffer blows, go without food and drink, live like a pig, to freeze or have my skin flayed for a pouch — if I can just get out of all my debt and make men think of me as bold and glib, as fearless, impudent, detestable, one who cobbles lies together, makes up words, a practiced legal rogue, a statute book, a chattering fox, sly and needle sharp, a slippery fraud, a sticky rascal, foul whipping boy or twisted villain, troublemaker, or idly prattling fool. If they can make those who run into me call me these names, they can do what they want — no questions asked. If, by Demeter, they're keen, they can convert me into sausages and serve me up to men who think deep thoughts.
Chorus: Here's a man whose mind's now smart, no holding back — prepared to start. When you have learned all this from me you know your glory will arise among all men to heaven's skies.
Strepsiades: And what will I get out of this?
Chorus: For all time, you'll live with me a life most people truly envy.
Strepsiades: You mean one day I'll really see that?
Chorus: Hordes will sit outside your door wanting your advice and more — to talk, to place their trust in you for their affairs and lawsuits, too, things which merit your great mind.

Unjust Cause: This art is worth more than ten thousand staters, that one should choose the worse cause, and nevertheless be victorious. (tr. Hickie 1853, vol. 1, Perseus)

Under every rock lurks a politician.

Bdelycleon: It is so that you may know only those who nourish you (tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus)

Whirl is king, having driven out Zeus.

Men of sense often learn from their enemies. It is from their foes, not their friends, that cities learn the lesson of building high walls and ships of war; and this lesson saves their children, their homes, and their properties.