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Aristophanes

45 quotes

• “οἱ βάρβαροι γὰρ ἄνδρας ἡγοῦνται μόνους τοὺς πλεῖστα δυναμένους φαγεῖν τε καὶ πιεῖν.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: For the barbarians think those only men Who have the greatest power to eat and drink. (tr. C. A. Wheelwright, 1837)

• “τὸ γὰρ δίκαιον οἶδε καὶ τρυγῳδία. ἐγὼ δὲ λέξω δεινὰ μέν, δίκαια δέ.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: : Comedy too can sometimes discern what is right. I shall not please, but I shall say what is true. (tr. Athen. 1912, Perseus)

• “ΔΙ. πῶς ἔχετε; ΜΕ. διαπεινᾶμες ἀεὶ ποττὸ πῦρ. ΔΙ. ἀλλ᾿ ἡδύ τοι νὴ τὸν Δί᾿, ἢν αὐλὸς παρῇ. τί δ᾿ ἄλλο πράττεθ᾿ οἱ Μεγαρῆς νῦν; ΜΕ. οἷα δή. ὅκα μὲν ἐγὼν τηνῶθεν ἐνεπορεύομαν, τὤνδρες πρόβουλοι τοῦτ᾿ ἔπρασσον τᾷ πόλι, ὅπως τάχιστα καὶ κάκιστ᾿ ἀπολοίμεθα. ΔΙ. αὐτίκ᾿ ἄρ᾿ ἀπαλλάξεσθε πραγμάτων. ΜΕ. σά μάν; τί δ᾿ ἄλλο Μεγαροῖ; πῶς ὁ σῖτος ὤνιος; ΜΕ. πὰρ ἁμὲ πολυτίματος ᾇπερ τοὶ θεοί.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: : Well, how are things at Megara? : We are crying with hunger at our firesides. : The fireside is jolly enough with a piper. But what else is doing at Megara, eh? : What else? When I left for the market, the authorities…

• “ἰὼ στρατηγοὶ πλέονες ἢ βελτίονες.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: : Ah! the Generals! they are numerous, but not good for much! (tr. Athen. 1912, vol. 1, Perseus)

• “πῶς δ᾿ ἂν μεθύων χρηστόν τι βουλεύσαιτ᾿ ἀνήρ;”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: What good is in a drunken counsellor? (tr. C. A. Wheelwright, 1837)

• “οἶνον σὺ τολμᾷς εἰς ἐπίνοιαν λοιδορεῖν; οἴνου γὰρ εὕροις ἄν τι πρακτικώτερον; ὁρᾷς, ὅταν πίνωσιν ἅνθρωποι, τότε πλουτοῦσι, διαπράττουσι, νικῶσιν δίκας, εὐδαιμονοῦσιν, ὠφελοῦσι τοὺς φίλους. ἀλλ᾿ ἐξένεγκέ μοι ταχέως οἴνου χοᾶ, τὸν νοῦν ἵν᾿ ἄρδω καὶ λέγω τι δεξιόν.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: : Do you dare to accuse wine of clouding the reason? Quote me more marvellous effects than those of wine. Look! when a man drinks, he is rich, everything he touches succeeds, he gains lawsuits, is happy and helps his fr…

• “ἡ δημαγωγία γὰρ οὐ πρὸς μουσικοῦ ἔτ᾿ ἐστὶν ἀνδρὸς οὐδὲ χρηστοῦ τοὺς τρόπους, ἀλλ᾿ εἰς ἀμαθῆ καὶ βδελυρόν.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: : A demagogue must be neither an educated nor an honest man; he has to be an ignoramus and a rogue. (tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus)

• “τάραττε καὶ χόρδευ᾿ ὁμοῦ τὰ πράγματα ἅπαντα, καὶ τὸν δῆμον ἀεὶ προσποιοῦ ὑπογλυκαίνων ῥηματίοις μαγειρικοῖς. τὰ δ᾿ ἄλλα σοι πρόσεστι δημαγωγικά, φωνὴ μιαρά, γέγονας κακῶς, ἀγόραιος εἶ· ἔχεις ἅπαντα πρὸς πολιτείαν ἃ δεῖ.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: [to the Sausage-Seller]: Mix and knead together all the state business as you do for your sausages. To win the people, always cook them some savoury that pleases them. Besides, you possess all the attributes of a demago…

• “ὅπερ γὰρ οἱ τὰς ἐγχέλεις θηρώμενοι πέπονθας. ὅταν μὲν ἡ λίμνη καταστῇ, λαμβάνουσιν οὐδέν· ἐὰν δ᾽ ἄνω τε καὶ κάτω τὸν βόρβορον κυκῶσιν, αἱροῦσι· καὶ σὺ λαμβάνεις, ἢν τὴν πόλιν ταράττῃς.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: : You [demagogues] are like the fishers for eels; in still waters they catch nothing, but if they thoroughly stir up the slime, their fishing is good; in the same way it's only in troublous times that you line your pock…

• “ὦ Δῆμε, καλήν γ᾿ ἔχεις ἀρχήν, ὅτε πάντες ἄν- θρωποι δεδίασί σ᾿ ὥσ- περ ἄνδρα τύραννον. ἀλλ᾿ εὐπαράγωγος εἶ, θωπευόμενός τε χαί- ρεις κἀξαπατώμενος, πρὸς τόν τε λέγοντ᾿ ἀεὶ κέχηνας· ὁ νοῦς δέ σου παρὼν ἀποδημεῖ.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: O Demos, thou a fine dominion hast, Since all men tremble at thee as a tyrant. But thou art quickly led by flatteries, Rejoicing to be duped—still open-mouthed Hearing the present speaker—and at once Resigning all thy r…

• “λοιδορῆσαι τοὺς πονηροὺς οὐδέν ἐστ᾿ ἐπίφθονον, ἀλλὰ τιμὴ τοῖσι χρηστοῖς, ὅστις εὖ λογίζεται.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: : An insult directed at the wicked is not to be censured; on the contrary, the honest man, if he has sense, can only applaud. (tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus)

• “ΣΤ. ὁ Ζεὺς δ᾿ ὑμῖν, φέρε, πρὸς τῆς γῆς, οὑλύμπιος οὐ θεός ἐστιν; ΣΩ. ποῖος Ζεύς; οὐ μὴ ληρήσεις· οὐδ᾿ ἔστι Ζεύς.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: : But come, by the Earth, is not Zeus, the Olympian, a god? : What Zeus? Do not trifle. There is no Zeus. (tr. Hickie 1853, vol. 1, Perseus)

• “δύο τρόπω, νὴ τὸν Δία. ἢν μέν γ᾿ ὀφείληταί τί μοι, μνήμων πάνυ· ἐὰν δ᾿ ὀφείλω σχέτλιος, ἐπιλήσμων πάνυ.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Two kinds of memory I have, I swear: What others owe me I can ne'er forget, But I've a shocking memory when I owe. (tr. T. B. Harbottle, 1897)

• “Δῖνος βασιλεύει, τὸν Δί᾿ ἐξεληλακώς.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: : Vortex reigns, having expelled Zeus. (tr. Hickie 1853, vol. 1, Perseus)

• “ῥόδα μ᾿ εἴρηκας.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Thou speakest roses to me. (tr. T. B. Harbottle, 1897)

• “μηδ᾿ ἀντειπεῖν τῷ πατρὶ μηδὲν μηδ᾿ Ἰαπετὸν καλέσαντα μνησικακῆσαι τῆς ἡλικίας ἐξ ἧς ἐνεοττοτροφήθης.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: : [Learn] not to contradict your father in anything; nor by calling him Iapetus, to reproach him with the ills of age, by which you were reared in your infancy. (tr. Hickie 1853, vol. 1, Perseus)

• “καὶ τοῦτο πλεῖν ἢ μυρίων ἔστ᾿ ἄξιον στατήρων, αἱρούμενον τοὺς ἥττονας λόγους ἔπειτα νικᾶν.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: : This art is worth more than ten thousand staters, that one should choose the worse cause, and nevertheless be victorious. (tr. Hickie 1853, vol. 1, Perseus)

• “δὶς παῖδες οἱ γέροντες.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Clouds, line 1417

• “αὕτη γε χρηστῶν ἐστιν ἀνδρῶν ἡ νόσος.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: : The love of wine is a good man's failing. (tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus)

• “ἵνα γιγνώσκῃς τὸν τιθασευτήν.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: : It is so that you may know only those who nourish you (tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus)

• “καὶ γὰρ πρότερον πράξας κατὰ νοῦν οὐχὶ παλαίστρας περινοστῶν παῖδας ἐπείρων, ἀλλ᾿ ἀράμενος τὴν σκευὴν εὐθὺς ἐχώρουν, παῦρ᾿ ἀνιάσας, πόλλ᾿ εὐφράνας, πάντα παρασχὼν τὰ δέοντα. πρὸς ταῦτα χρεὼν εἶναι μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ καὶ τοὺς ἄνδρας καὶ τοὺς παῖδας· καὶ τοῖς φαλακροῖσι παραινοῦμεν ξυσπουδάζειν περὶ τῆς νίκης. πᾶς γάρ τις ἐρεῖ νικῶντος ἐμοῦ κἀπὶ τραπέζῃ καὶ ξυμποσίοις, "φέρε τῷ φαλακρῷ, δὸς τῷ φαλακρῷ τῶν τρωγαλίων, καὶ μἀφαίρει γενναιοτάτου τῶν ποιητῶν ἀνδρὸς τὸ μέτωπον ἔχοντος.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: [speaking for Aristophanes]: Yet I have not been seen frequenting the wrestling school intoxicated with success and trying to seduce young boys; but I took all my theatrical gear and returned straight home. I pained fol…

• “οὔποτε ποιήσεις τὸν καρκίνον ὀρθὰ βαδίζειν.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: : You will never make the crab walk straight. (tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus)

• “κακὸν τὸ πίνειν· ἀπὸ γὰρ οἴνου γίγνεται καὶ θυροκοπῆσαι καὶ πατάξαι καὶ βαλεῖν, κἄπειτ᾿ ἀποτίνειν ἀργύριον ἐκ κραιπάλης.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: To drink is evil—for from wine arises Breaking of doors, blows, stoning, and the money That must be paid down when the headache's past. (tr. C. A. Wheelwright, 1837)

• “ΕΠ. ἀλλ᾿ ἀπ᾿ ἐχθρῶν δὴ τὰ πολλὰ μανθάνουσιν οἱ σοφοί. ἡ γὰρ εὐλάβεια σῴζει τὰ πάντα. παρὰ μὲν οὖν φίλου οὐ μάθοις ἂν τοῦθ᾿, ὁ δ᾿ ἐχθρὸς εὐθὺς ἐξηνάγκασεν. αὐτίχ᾿ αἱ πόλεις παρ᾿ ἀνδρῶν γ᾿ ἔμαθον ἐχθρῶν κοὐ φίλων ἐκπονεῖν θ᾿ ὑψηλὰ τείχη ναῦς τε κεκτῆσθαι μακράς· τὸ δὲ μάθημα τοῦτο σῴζει παῖδας, οἶκον, χρήματα. ΧΟ. ἔστι μὲν λόγων ἀκοῦσαι πρῶτον, ὡς ἡμῖν δοκεῖ· χρήσιμον μάθοι γὰρ ἄν τι κἀπὸ τῶν ἐχθρῶν σοφός.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: : You're mistaken: men of sense often learn from their enemies. Prudence is the best safeguard. This principle cannot be learned from a friend, but an enemy extorts it immediately. It is from their foes, not their frien…

• “δολερὸν μὲν ἀεὶ κατὰ πάντα δὴ τρόπον πέφυκεν ἄνθρωπος.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: [of Birds]: Man naturally is deceitful, ever indeed, and always, in every one thing. (tr. Warter 1830, p. 199)

• “ἄγε δή, φύσιν ἄνδρες ἀμαυρόβιοι, φύλλων γενεᾷ προσόμοιοι, ὀλιγοδρανέες, πλάσματα πηλοῦ, σκιοειδέα φῦλ᾿ ἀμενηνά, ἀπτῆνες ἐφημέριοι, ταλαοὶ βροτοί, ἀνέρες εἰκελόνειροι.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: [leader]: Ye Children of Man! whose life is a span, / Protracted with sorrow from day to day, / Naked and featherless, feeble and querulous, / Sickly, calamitous creatures of clay! (heavily rewritten tr. Frere 1839, p. …

• “ΕΥ. φέρ᾿ ἴδω, τί δ᾿ ἡμῖν ὄνομ᾿ ⟨ἄρ᾿⟩ ἔσται τῇ πόλει; [...] ΧΟ. ἐντευθενὶ ἐκ τῶν νεφελῶν καὶ τῶν μετεώρων χωρίων χαῦνόν τι πάνυ. ΠΕ. βούλει Νεφελοκοκκυγίαν;”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: : Come let me see, what shall the name be for our city? [...] : Hence, from the clouds, and these meteoric regions, some all-swelling name. : Would you "Cloud-cuckoo-land?" (tr. Warter 1830, p. 215)

• “ΠΟ. νομάδεσσι γὰρ ἐν Σκύθαις ἀλᾶται στρατῶν ὃς ὑφαντοδόνητον ἔσθος οὐ πέπαται· ἀκλεὴς δ᾿ ἔβα σπολὰς ἄνευ χιτῶνος. ξύνες ὅ τοι λέγω. ΠΕ. ξυνίημ᾿ ὅτι βούλει τὸν χιτωνίσκον λαβεῖν. ἀπόδυθι· δεῖ γὰρ τὸν ποιητὴν ὠφελεῖν.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: : "Straton wanders among the Scythian nomads, but has no linen garment. He is sad at only wearing an animal's pelt and no tunic." Do you get what I mean? : I understand that you want me to offer you a tunic. Hi! you (To…

• “ΣΥ. ὦ δαιμόνιε, μὴ νουθέτει μ᾿, ἀλλὰ πτέρου. ΠΕ. νῦν τοι λέγων πτερῶν σε. ΣΥ. καὶ πῶς ἂν λόγοις ἄνδρα πτερώσειας σύ; ΠΕ. πάντες τοι λόγοις ἀναπτεροῦνται. [...] ΣΥ. λόγοισι γ᾿ ἆρα καὶ πτεροῦνται; ΠΕ. φημ᾿ ἐγώ. ὑπὸ γὰρ λόγων ὁ νοῦς τε μετεωρίζεται ἐπαίρεταί τ᾿ ἄνθρωπος. οὕτω καὶ σ᾿ ἐγὼ ἀναπτερώσας βούλομαι χρηστοῖς λόγοις τρέψαι πρὸς ἔργον νόμιμον.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: : My friend, I am asking you for wings, not for words. : It's just my words that gives you wings. : And how can you give a man wings with your words? : They all start this way. [...] : So that words give wings? : Undoub…

• “ΛΥ. ἡμῖν γάρ, ὦ γυναῖκες, εἴπερ μέλλομεν ἀναγκάσειν τοὺς ἄνδρας εἰρήνην ἄγειν [...] ἀφεκτέα τοίνυν ἐστὶν ἡμῖν τοῦ πέους. τί μοι μεταστρέφεσθε; ποῖ βαδίζετε; αὗται, τί μοιμυᾶτε κἀνανεύετε; τί χρὼς τέτραπται; τί δάκρυον κατείβεται;”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: : O women, if we would compel the men to bow to Peace, [...] We must refrain from every depth of love.... Why do you turn your backs? Where are you going? Why do you bite your lips and shake your heads? Why are your fac…

• “εἰ δ᾿ ἐγὼ γυνὴ πέφυκα, τοῦτο μὴ φθονεῖτέ μοι, ἢν ἀμείνω γ᾿ εἰσενέγκω τῶν παρόντων πραγμάτων. τοὐρανοῦ γάρ μοι μέτεστι· καὶ γὰρ ἄνδρας εἰσφέρω.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: [Choir of] : 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. (tr. Lindsay 1925, Perseus)

• “ΧΟγε. οὐδέν ἐστι θηρίον γυναικὸς ἀμαχώτερον, οὐδὲ πῦρ, οὐδ᾿ ὧδ᾿ ἀναιδὴς οὐδεμία πάρδαλις. ΧΟγυ. ταῦτα μέντοι ⟨σὺ⟩ ξυνίεις εἶτα πολεμεῖς ἐμοί, ἐξόν, ὦ πονηρέ, σοι βέβαιον ἔμ᾿ ἔχειν φίλην;”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: [Choir of] : There is no beast, no rush of fire, like woman so untamed. She calmly goes her way where even panthers would be shamed. [Choir of] : And yet you are fool enough, it seems, to dare to war with me, when for y…

• “ΧΟγε. ἀλλὰ μὴ ὥρασ᾿ ἴκοισθ᾿· ὡς ἐστὲ θωπικαὶ φύσει, κἄστ᾿ ἐκεῖνο τοὔπος ὀρθῶς κοὐ κακῶς εἰρημένον, "οὔτε σὺν πανωλέθροισιν οὔτ᾿ ἄνευ πανωλέθρων".”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: [Choir of] : O botheration take you all! How you cajole and flatter. A hell it is to live with you; to live without, a hell. (tr. Lindsay 1925, Perseus)

• “τὰς συμφορὰς γὰρ οὐχὶ τοῖς τεχνάσμασιν φέρειν δίκαιον, ἀλλὰ τοῖς παθήμασιν.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: : One must not try to trick misfortune, but resign oneself to it with good grace. (tr. Athen. 1912, vol. 2, p. 278) (tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus)

• “ὑπὸ λίθῳ γὰρ παντί που χρὴ μὴ δάκῃ ῥήτωρ ἀθρεῖν.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: : [We] must look beneath every stone, lest it conceal some orator ready to sting us. (tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus)

• “ἀνάγκη μεγάλων γνωμῶν καὶ διανοιῶν ἴσα καὶ τὰ ῥήματα τίκτειν.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: : High thoughts must have high language. (rewritten and embellished tr. Fitts 1955, p. 108)

• “χρήματα πορίζειν ⟨δ᾿⟩ εὐπορώτατον γυνή, ἄρχουσά τ᾿ οὐκ ἂν ἐξαπατηθείη ποτέ· αὐταὶ γάρ εἰσιν ἐξαπατᾶν εἰθισμέναι.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: : Woman is adept at getting money for herself and will not easily let herself be deceived; she understands deceit too well herself. (tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus)

• “ΠΡ. κοινωνεῖν γὰρ πάντας φήσω χρῆναι πάντων μετέχοντας κἀκ ταὐτοῦ ζῆν, καὶ μὴ τὸν μὲν πλουτεῖν, τὸν δ᾿ ἄθλιον εἶναι, [...] τὴν γῆν πρώτιστα ποιήσω κοινὴν πάντων καὶ τἀργύριον καὶ τἄλλ᾿, ὁπόσ᾿ ἐστὶν ἑκάστῳ. [...] ΧΡ. τὴν γῆν δὲ τίς ἐσθ᾿ ὁ γεωργήσων; ΠΡ. οἱ δοῦλοι.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: : I want all to have a share of everything and all property to be in common; there will no longer be either rich or poor; [...] I shall begin by making land, money, everything that is private property, common to all. [.…

• “ὦ κράτιστε Πλοῦτε πάντων δαιμόνων.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: : [Wealth], the most excellent of all the gods. (tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus)

• “ὡς οὐδὲν ἀτεχνῶς ὑγιές ἐστιν οὐδενός, ἀλλ᾿ εἰσὶ τοῦ κέρδους ἅπαντες ἥττονες.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: : There is no honest man! not one, that can resist the attraction of gold! (tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus)

• “τὸ γὰρ φοβεῖσθαι τὸν θάνατον λῆρος πολύς· πᾶσιν γὰρ ἡμῖν τοῦτ᾿ ὀφείλεται παθεῖν.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Frg. 468 K.-A., Polyidos (tr. T. B. Harbottle, 1897)

• “ἡδύς τε πίνειν οἶνος, Ἀφροδίτης γάλα.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Frg. 613 K.-A. (tr. T. B. Harbottle, 1897)

• “αἰσχρὸν νέᾳ γυναικὶ πρεσβύτης ἀνήρ.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Frg. 616 K.-A. (tr. T. B. Harbottle, 1897)

• “δύναται γὰρ ἴσον τῷ δρᾶν τὸ νοεῖν.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Frg. 711 K.-A. (tr. T. B. Harbottle, 1897)

• “ΧΡ. σὺ γὰρ ἂν πορίσαι τί δύναι᾿ ἀγαθὸν πλὴν φῴδων ἐκ βαλανείου καὶ παιδαρίων ὑποπεινώντων καὶ γραϊδίων κολοσυρτόν; φθειρῶν τ᾿ ἀριθμὸν καὶ κωνώπων καὶ ψυλλῶν οὐδὲ λέγω σοι ὑπὸ τοῦ πλήθους, αἳ βομβοῦσαι περὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν ἀνιῶσιν, ἐπεγείρουσαι καὶ φράζουσαι "πεινήσεις· ἀλλ᾿ ἐπανίστω." [...] ΠΕ. σὺ μὲν οὐ τὸν ἐμὸν βίον εἴρηκας, τὸν τῶν πτωχῶν δ᾿ ἐπεκρούσω. [...] πτωχοῦ μὲν γὰρ βίος, ὃν σὺ λέγεις, ζῆν ἐστιν μηδὲν ἔχοντα· τοῦ δὲ πένητος ζῆν φειδόμενον καὶ τοῖς ἔργοις προσέχοντα, περιγίγνεσθαι δ᾿ αὐτῷ μηδέν, μὴ μέντοι μηδ᾿ ἐπιλείπειν. [...] οὐ γιγνώσκων ὅτι τοῦ Πλούτου παρέχω βελτίονας ἄνδρας καὶ τὴν γνώμην καὶ τὴν ἰδέαν. παρὰ τῷ μὲν γὰρ ποδαγρῶντες καὶ γαστρώδεις καὶ παχύκνημοι καὶ πίονές εἰσιν ἀσελγῶς, παρ᾿ ἐμοὶ δ᾿ ἰσχνοὶ καὶ σφηκώδεις καὶ τοῖς ἐχθροῖς ἀνιαροί. [...] περὶ σωφροσύνης ἤδη τοίνυν περανῶ σφῷν κἀναδιδάξω ὅτι κοσμιότης οἰκεῖ μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ, τοῦ Πλούτου δ᾿ ἔστ᾿ ἐνυβρίζειν. [...] σκέψαι τοίνυν ἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν τοὺς ῥήτορας, ὡς ὁπόταν μὲν ὧσι πένητες, περὶ τὸν δῆμον καὶ τὴν πόλιν εἰσὶ δίκαιοι, πλουτήσαντες δ᾿ ἀπὸ τῶν κοινῶν παραχρῆμ᾿ ἄδικοι γεγένηνται, ἐπιβουλεύουσί τε τῷ πλήθει καὶ τῶ δήμῳ πολεμοῦσιν. [...] ΧΡ. καὶ πῶς φεύγουσί σ᾿ ἅπαντες; ΠΕ. ὅτι βελτίους αὐτοὺς ποιῶ. σκέψασθαι δ᾿ ἔστι μάλιστα ἀπὸ τῶν παίδων· τοὺς γὰρ πατέρας φεύγουσι φρονοῦντας ἄριστα αὐτοῖς. οὕτω διαγιγνώσκειν χαλεπὸν πρᾶγμ᾿ ἐστὶ τὸ χρηστόν.”

  Aristophanes (445–385 BC) said by 385 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: : And what good thing can [Poverty] give us, unless it be burns in the bath, and swarms of brats and old women who cry with hunger, and clouds uncountable of lice, gnats and flies, which hover about the wretch's head, t…