Menander Quotes

I call a fig a fig, a spade a spade.

Health and intellect are the two blessings of life.

At times discretion should be thrown aside, and with the foolish we should play the fool.

Riches cover a multitude of woes.

[Old age] never comes alone.

Take notice, Pheidias, that you are human yourself, and that the wretched man is also human, in order that you may not covet what's beyond you. But when you say that you suffer from insomnia, you'll know the cause if you'll examine yourself what man you are. You take a stroll in the market-place; you come in forthwith; if your two legs are tired you take a luxurious bath; you rise up and eat greedily at pleasure; your life itself is a sleep. In fine, you have no ill; your disease is luxury through which you have passed — but something rather hackneyed, my young master, occurs to me — please excuse me — as the saying goes, you know, you are so crowded by your blessings, know it well, that you have no room to defecate.

It is not white hair that engenders wisdom.

Even if you were a softy, you took the mattock, you dug, you were willing to work. In this part he most shows himself a man, whoever tolerates making himself equal to another, rich to poor. For this man will bear a change of fortune with self-control. You have given a sufficient proof of your character. I wish only that you remain as you are.

The man who runs may fight again.

Conscience is a God to all mortals.

Rest assured, for every piece of business the most businesslike thing is to choose the right moment.

τὰ σῦκα σῦκα, τὴν σκάφην σκάφην...

Marriage, if one will face the truth, is an evil, but a necessary evil.

This man has lived here a reasonably long time and has gladly talked in his life to no one, has spoken first to no one except — of necessity, since he is a neighbor and passes by — me, Pan. And he immediately regrets it, I'm sure.

ὃν οἱ θεοὶ φιλοῦσιν ἀποθνῄσκει νέος