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What unlooked-for things do happen, to be sure, in a long life!

Aristophanes

Weak mortals, chained to the earth, creatures of clay as frail as the foliage of the woods, you unfortunate race, whose life is but darkness, as unreal as a shadow, the illusion of a dream.
ARISTOPHANES

Darkness Dream Race
Surely you do not believe in the gods. What’s your argument? Where’s your proof?
ARISTOPHANES

Argument Atheist Believe God Religion
Thou shouldst not decide until thou hast heard what both have to say.
ARISTOPHANES

Ethics Fairness Justice
An ancient tradition declares that every idiot blunder we pass into law will sooner or later redound to Athens’ profit.
ARISTOPHANES

Idiot Law
If you strike upon a thought that baffles you, break off from that entanglement and try another, so shall your wits be fresh to start again.
ARISTOPHANES

Break Thinking Try
The old are in a second childhood.
ARISTOPHANES

Age Childhood Old Age One Liner
When men drink, then they are rich and successful and win lawsuits and are happy and help their friends. Quickly, bring me a beaker of wine, so that I may wet my mind and say something clever.
ARISTOPHANES

Alcohol Clever Friendship Rich Successful Wine
A demagogue must be neither an educated nor an honest man; he has to be an ignoramus and a rogue.
ARISTOPHANES

Education Honest Men
It is the compelling power of great thoughts and ideas to engender phrases of equal size.
ARISTOPHANES

Ideas Phrases Power Size
Do not bandy words with your father, nor treat him as a dotard, nor reproach the old man, who has cherished you, with his age.
ARISTOPHANES

Age Father Happiness Men
There is no beast, no rush of fire, like woman so untamed. She calmly goes her way where even panthers would be shamed.
ARISTOPHANES

Fire Strong Untamed Wild Women
Prayers without wine are perfectly pointless.
ARISTOPHANES

Pointless Prayer Religious Wine
Have you ever, looking up, seen a cloud like to a Centaur, a Part, or a Wolf, or a Bull?
ARISTOPHANES

Animal Clouds Nature
The love of wine is a good man’s failing.
ARISTOPHANES

Failure Ideas Love Men Wine
Tis not for us to warn a wilful sinner; We stay him not, but let him run his course, Till by misfortunes rous’d, his conscience wakes, And prompts him to appease th’ offended gods.
ARISTOPHANES

Courses Fortune God Running Wake
Look at the orators in our republics; as long as they are poor, both state and people can only praise their uprightness; but once they are fattened on the public funds, they conceive a hatred for justice, plan intrigues against the people and attack the democracy.
ARISTOPHANES

Justice Long Ourselves People

What unlooked-for things do happen, to be sure, in a long life!

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What unlooked-for things do happen, to be sure, in a long life!

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More Aristophanes Quotes