All Homer Quotes with Verified Sources & Citations (175)

There is no strength in weakness.

circa 800 BCE — From 'The Iliad', rejecting vulnerability.

General Unverifiable

A generation of men is like a generation of leaves.

circa 800 BCE — From 'The Iliad', comparing life to fleeting nature.

General Unverifiable

The gods do not give all men all gifts.

circa 800 BCE — From 'The Odyssey', acknowledging inequality.

General Unverifiable

The best of seers is he who guesses well.

circa 800 BCE — From 'The Iliad', mocking prophecy.

General Unverifiable

The gods can either give or take away.

circa 800 BCE — From 'The Odyssey', acknowledging divine power.

General Unverifiable

No man or woman born, coward or brave, can shun his destiny.

circa 800 BCE — From 'The Iliad', embracing fate.

General Unverifiable

There is no favor in the spear.

circa 800 BCE — From 'The Iliad', describing war's impartiality.

General Unverifiable

The gods plant reason in the hearts of men.

circa 800 BCE — From 'The Odyssey', acknowledging divine influence.

General Unverifiable

No one can hurry me down to Hades before my time.

circa 800 BCE — From 'The Iliad', defying death.

General Unverifiable

The gods do not take all men's wits away.

circa 800 BCE — From 'The Odyssey', acknowledging human intelligence.

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There is no greater fame for a man than that which he wins with his own hands and feet.

circa 800 BCE — From 'The Iliad', advocating personal achievement.

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The gods love to thwart a man when he is growing too great.

circa 800 BCE — From 'The Odyssey', describing divine jealousy.

General Unverifiable

It is not possible to deceive the gods.

circa 800 BCE — From 'The Iliad', acknowledging divine omniscience.

General Unverifiable

The gods do not give all men the gift of song.

circa 800 BCE — From 'The Odyssey', acknowledging inequality.

General Unverifiable

There is no way to escape death.

circa 800 BCE — From 'The Iliad', embracing mortality.

General Unverifiable

Homer