Homer - Iliad

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The single best augury is to fight for one's country.

Homer
So they spoke, and both springing down from behind their horses
gripped each other's hands and exchanged the promise of friendship;
but Zeus the son of Kronos stole away the wits of Glaukos
who exchanged with Diomedes the son of Tydeus armour
of gold for bronze, for nine oxen's worth the worth of a hundred.

Homer
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. But when dogs shame the gray head and gray chin and nakedness of an old man killed, it is the most piteous thing that happens among wretched mortals.

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

Homer
The hearts of the noble may be turned [by entreaty].

Homer
There is the heat of Love, the pulsing rush of Longing, the lover's whisper, irresistible—magic to make the sanest man go mad.

Homer
All things are in the hand of heaven, and Folly, eldest of Jove's daughters, shuts men's eyes to their destruction. She walks delicately, not on the solid earth, but hovers over the heads of men to make them stumble or to ensnare them.

Homer
The glorious gifts of the gods are not to be cast aside.

Homer
If you are very valiant, it is a god, I think, who gave you this gift.

Homer
Even when someone battles hard, there is an equal portion for one who lingers behind, and in the same honor are held both the coward and the brave man; the idle man and he who has done much meet death alike.

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

Homer
Prayers are the daughters of mighty Zeus, lame and wrinkled and slanting-eyed.

Homer
As the woman with the dog's eyes would not close my eyelids for me as I lay dying into Hades.

Homer
Uncontrollable laughter arose among the blessed gods.

Homer
By mutual confidence and mutual aid - great deeds are done, and great discoveries made

Homer
Here, therefore, huge and mighty warrior though you be, here shall you die.

Homer
I too shall lie in the dust when I am dead, but now let me win noble renown.

Homer
Great Priam entered in, and coming close to Achilles, clasped in his hands his knees, and kissed his hands, the terrible, man-slaying hands that had slain his many sons.

Homer
Proud is the spirit of Zeus-fostered kings—their honor comes from Zeus, and Zeus, god of council, loves them.

Homer
Clanless, lawless, homeless is he who is in love with civil war, that brutal ferocious thing.

Homer
Ill fares the State where many masters rule; let one be lord, one king supreme.

Homer
Yet while my Hector still survives, I see My father, mother, brethren, all in thee.

Homer
Never to be cast away are the gifts of the gods, magnificent, which they give of their own will, no man could have them for wanting them.

Homer
At length as the Morning Star was beginning to herald the light which saffron-mantled Dawn was soon to suffuse over the sea, the flames fell and the fire began to die.

Homer
It is not strength, but art, obtains the prize, And to be swift is less than to be wise.

Homer
Like leaves on trees the race of man is found,- Now green in youth, now withering on the ground; Another race the following spring supplies: They fall successive, and successive rise.

Homer
And endless are the modes of speech, and far
Extends from side to side the field of words.

Homer
And they die an equal death — the idler and the man of mighty deeds.

Homer
Persuasive speech, and more persuasive sighs, Silence that spoke and eloquence of eyes.

Homer
O friends, be men; so act that none may feel Ashamed to meet the eyes of other men. Think each one of this children and his wife, His home, his parents, living yet and dead. For them, the absent ones, I supplicate, And bid you rally here, and scorn to fly.

Homer