Aristophanes Quotes

Prayers without wine are perfectly pointless.
ARISTOPHANES

Pointless Prayer Religious Wine
This is what extremely grieves us, that a man who never fought Should contrive our fees to pilfer, on who for his native land Never to this day had oar, or lance, or blister in his hand.
ARISTOPHANES

Fight Grief Hands Himself Men Shine Sun
Youth ages, immaturity is outgrown, ignorance can be educated, and drunkenness sobered, but stupid lasts forever.
ARISTOPHANES

Age Education Forever Ignorance Stupidity Youth
Full of wiles, full of guile, at all times, in all ways, are the children of Men.
ARISTOPHANES

Children Man Time
Open your mouth and shut your eyes and see what Zeus will send you.
ARISTOPHANES

Atheist Eye Mouth
Thou shouldst not decide until thou hast heard what both have to say.
ARISTOPHANES

Ethics Fairness Justice
Characteristics of a popular politician: a horrible voice, bad breeding, and a vulgar manner.
ARISTOPHANES

Character Politician Voice
It is right that the good should be happy, that the wicked and the impious on the other hand, should be miserable; that is a truth, I believe, which no one will gainsay.
ARISTOPHANES

Believe Evil Hands
Old age is second childhood.
ARISTOPHANES

Age Childhood Old Age One Liner
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
You can’t have anything else to say: you’ve poured out every drop of what you know.
ARISTOPHANES

Knowledge Yourself
Ignorance can be cured, but stupidity is forever.
ARISTOPHANES

Forever Ignorance One Liner Stupidity
One must not try to trick misfortune, but resign oneself to it with good grace.
ARISTOPHANES

Adversity Fortune Grace Trying
The wise learn many things from their enemies.
ARISTOPHANES

Enemy Life Wisdom Wise
To invoke solely the weaker arguments and yet triumph is an art worth more than a hundred thousand drachmae.
ARISTOPHANES

Argument Art Success
It often happens that less depends upon the valor of an army than the skill of the leader.
ARISTOPHANES

Army Leadership Skill
Poverty, the most fearful monster that ever drew breath.
ARISTOPHANES

Evil Fear Poor
Under every stone lurks a politician.
ARISTOPHANES

Hide Politics Witty
A man may learn wisdom even from a foe.
ARISTOPHANES

Enemy Inspirational Learning Man Wisdom
Comedy too can sometimes discern what is right. I shall not please, but I shall say what is true.
ARISTOPHANES

Comedy Right True
If a man owes me money, I never seem to forget. But if I do the owing, I somehow never remember.
ARISTOPHANES

Debt Funny Men Money Owing
Mix and knead together all the state business as you do for your sausages. To win the people, always cook them some savory that pleases them.
ARISTOPHANES

People Together Winning
Surely you do not believe in the gods. What’s your argument? Where’s your proof?
ARISTOPHANES

Argument Atheist Believe God Religion
The truth is forced upon us, very quickly, by a foe.
ARISTOPHANES

Enemy Force Truth
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
Even if you persuade me, you won’t persuade me.
ARISTOPHANES

Change Yourself
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.
ARISTOPHANES

Friendship Wall War

Famous Playwrights