Theognis of Megara Quotes

Unless the gods deceive my mind,
That man is forging fetters for himself.

The best of all things for earthly men is not to be born and not to see the beams of the bright sun; but if born, then as quickly as possible to pass the gates of Hades, and to lie deep buried.

The lucky man is honored ...

Too many tongues have gates which fly apart
Too easily, and care for many things
That don’t concern them.

The deckhands are in control, and the base have the upper hand over the noble.

One finds many companions for food and drink, but in a serious business a man's companions are few.

Surfeit begets insolence, when prosperity comes to a bad man.

Bright youth passes swiftly as a thought.

We struggle onward, ignorant and blind,

Ploutos, no wonder mortals worship you:
You are so tolerant of their sins!

No man takes with him to Hades all his exceeding wealth.

Wine is wont to show the mind of man.

Πάντων μὲν μὴ φῦναι ἐπιχθονίοισιν ἄριστον
μηδ' ἐσιδεῖν αὐγὰς ὀξέος ἠελίου,
φύντα δ' ὅπως ὤκιστα πύλας Ἀίδαο περῆσαι
καὶ κεῖσθαι πολλὴν γῆν ἐπαμησάμενον.

To beget and breed a man is easi er than to put into him good wits; none hath ever devised means whereby he hath made a fool wise and a bad man good. If God had given the Children of Asclepius the art of healing a man's evil nature and infatuate wit, they would receive wages much and great; and if thought could be made and put into us, the son of a good father would never become bad, because he would be persuaded by good counsel. But by teaching never shalt thou make the bad man good.

ἀμφ' ἀρετῇ τρίβου, καί τοι τὰ δίκαια φίλ’ ἔστω,