It should not prejudice my voice that I’m not born a man, if I say something advantageous to the present situation. For I’m taxed too, and as a toll provide men for the nation.
ARISTOPHANESMen 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.
More Aristophanes Quotes
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Comedy too can sometimes discern what is right. I shall not please, but I shall say what is true.
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An ancient tradition declares that every idiot blunder we pass into law will sooner or later redound to Athens’ profit.
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Words give wings to the mind and make a man soar to heaven.
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The truth is forced upon us, very quickly, by a foe.
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An insult directed at the wicked is not to be censured; on the contrary, the honest man, if he has sense, can only applaud.
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When men drink wine they are rich, they are busy, they push lawsuits, they are happy, they are friends.
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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.
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Why, I’d like nothing better than to achieve some bold adventure, worthy of our trip.
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A fox is subtlety itself.
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There is no honest man! not one, that can resist the attraction of gold!
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Times change. The vices of your age are stylish today.
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An actor should refine public taste.
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To plunder, to lie, to show your arse, are three essentials for climbing high.
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Prayers without wine are perfectly pointless.
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The old are in a second childhood.
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Wise people, even though all laws were abolished, would still lead the same life.
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Hunger knows no friend but its feeder.
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Wealth–the most excellent of all gods.
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Love is merely the name for the desire and pursuit of the whole.
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These impossible women! How they do get around us! The poet was right: can’t live with them, or without them!
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How can I study from below, that which is above?
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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.
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Even if you persuade me, you won’t persuade me.
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The gods, my dear simple fellow, are a mere expression coined by vulgar superstition. We frown upon such coinage here.
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Ah! the Generals! they are numerous, but not good for much!
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One must not try to trick misfortune, but resign oneself to it with good grace.
ARISTOPHANES