Homer

Suspicious we are, we men who walk the earth.

My good friend, if, when we were once out of this fight, we could escape old age and death thenceforward and for ever, I should neither press forward myself nor bid you do so, but death in ten thousand shapes hangs ever over our heads, and no man can elude him; therefore let us go forward and either win glory for ourselves, or yield it to another.

Many are the birds who under the sun's rays wander the sky; not all of them mean anything.

It has been placed under the northern pole, in Tartary.

As the wind scatters leaves upon the earth, such is the race of men.

When two men are together, one of them may see some opportunity which the other has not caught sight of; if a man is alone he is less full of resource, and his wit is weaker.

The struggle itself [...] is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.

Patroclus, in Achilles' arms, enlighten'd all with stars.

No finer, greater gift in the world than that...when man and woman possess their home, two minds, two hearts that work as one.

The evil plan is most harmful to the planner.

Not at all similar are the race of the immortal gods and the race of men who walk upon the earth.

The race of men is like the race of leaves. As one generation flourishes, another decays.

Fear not, but be bold: A decent boldness ever meets with friends, succeeds, and e’en a stranger recommends.

Better to be the poor servant of a poor master.

Words as empty as the wind are best left unsaid

What is this word that broke through the fence of your teeth, Atreides?

There can be no covenants between men and lions, wolves and lambs can never be of one mind, but hate each other out and out an through.

I am going to stand against him now, though his hands are like flame, though his hands are like flame, and his heart like the shining of iron.

That is the god's work, spinning threads of death through the lives of mortal men, and all to make a song for those to come...

A man dies still if he has done nothing, as one who has done much.

Man is the vainest of all creatures that have their being upon earth. As long as heaven vouchsafes him health and strength, he thinks that he shall come to no harm hereafter, and even when the blessed gods bring sorrow upon him, he bears it as he needs must, and makes the best of it; for God Almighty gives men their daily minds day by day. I know all about it, for I was a rich man once, and did much wrong in the stubbornness of my pride, and in the confidence that my father and my brothers would support me; therefore let a man fear God in all things always, and take the good that heaven may see fit to send him without vainglory.

Oh for shame, how the mortals put the blame on us gods, for they say evils come from us, but it is they, rather, who by their own recklessness win sorrow beyond what is given...

Very like leaves upon this earth are the generations of men - old leaves, cast on the ground by wind, young leaves the greening forest bears when spring comes in. So mortals pass; one generation flowers even as another dies away.

The tongue of man is a twisty thing.

Getting out of jury duty is easy. The trick is to say you're prejudiced against all races.

They did not know her-gods are hard for mortals to recognize.

Yet, taught by time, my heart has learned to glow for other's good, and melt at other's woe.

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.

All men owe honor to the poets - honor and awe; for they are dearest to the Muse who puts upon their lips the ways of life.

A sympathetic friend can be quite as dear as a brother.