Themistocles Quotes

10 Sourced Quotes

I never learned how to tune a harp, or play upon a lute; but I know how to raise a small and inconsiderable city to glory and greatness.

Themistocles
Upon being asked whether he would rather be Achilles or Homer:
Which would you rather be—a victor in the Olympic games, or the announcer of the victor?

Themistocles
The speech of man is like embroidered tapestries, since like them this too has to be extended in order to display its patterns, but when it is rolled up it conceals and distorts them.

Themistocles
Tuning the lyre and handling the harp are no accomplishments of mine, but rather taking in hand a city that was small and inglorious and making it glorious and great.

Themistocles
I have with me two gods, Persuasion and Compulsion.

Themistocles
Of two suitors for his daughter's hand:
I choose the likely man in preference to the rich man; I want a man without money rather than money without a man.

Themistocles
He who commands the sea has command of everything.

Themistocles
May I never sit on a tribunal where my friends shall not find more favor from me than strangers.

Themistocles
For the Athenians command the rest of Greece, I command the Athenians; your mother commands me, and you command your mother.

Themistocles
Of his son:
The boy is the most powerful of all the Hellenes; for the Hellenes are commanded by the Athenians, the Athenians by myself, myself by the boy's mother, and the mother by her boy.

Themistocles