Homer
Iliad and Odyssey
Sayings by Homer
A generation of men is like a generation of leaves; the wind scatters some leaves upon the ground, while others the burgeoning wood brings forth.
No mortal can hurry me down to Hades before my time, but if a man's hour is come, be he brave or be he coward, there is no escape for him when he has once been born.
Dreams surely are difficult, confusing, and not everything in them is brought to pass for mankind.
A small rock holds back a great wave.
There is a strength in the union even of very sorry men.
It is entirely seemly for a young man killed in battle to lie mangled by the bronze spear. In his death all things appear fair.
The best omen is to defend one's country.
The day of return for a man long absent is the best of days.
A man dies still if he has done nothing, as one who has done much.
No one is sent to Hades before his destined hour.
Words empty as the wind are best left unsaid.
It is not unseemly for a man to die fighting in defense of his country.
Few sons attain the praise of their fathers; most are worse, few better.
It is not possible to fight beyond your strength, even if you strive.
The minds of the everlasting gods are not changed suddenly.
Each man delights in the work that suits him best.
Not to have been born is best, but if one has seen the light of day, the next best thing is to return as quickly as possible to where he came from.
It is the lot of man to suffer, and the best of men to suffer most.
The gods have woven misery into mortal lives, that there might be songs for men to come.
But among the blessed immortals uncontrollable laughter went up as they saw Hephaestos bustling about the palace.