Homer

Iliad and Odyssey

Ancient influential 175 sayings

Sayings by Homer

There is no strength in weakness.

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

A generation of men is like a generation of leaves.

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

The gods do not give all men all gifts.

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

The best of seers is he who guesses well.

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

The gods can either give or take away.

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

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

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

There is no favor in the spear.

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

The gods plant reason in the hearts of men.

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

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

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

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

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

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.
Controversial Unverifiable

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

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

It is not possible to deceive the gods.

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

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

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

There is no way to escape death.

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