Best 15 quotes of Theognis on MyQuotes

Adopt the character of the twisting octopus, which takes on the appearance of the nearby rock . Now follow in this direction, now turn a different hue.

Boy, you're like a horse. Just now sated with seed, You've come back to my stable, Yearning for a good rider, fine meadow, An icy spring, shady groves.

Even to a wicked man a divinity gives wealth, Cyrnus, but to few men comes the gift of excellence.

He who mistrusts most should be trusted least.

Not to be born at all would be the best thing for man.

One finds many companions for food and drink, but in a serious business a man's companions are very few.

Ploutos , no wonder mortals worship you: You are so tolerant of their sins !

Ram, ass, and horse, my Kyrnos, we look over With care, and seek good stock for good to cover; And yet the best men make no argument, But wed, for money, runts of poor descent. So too a woman will demean her state And spurn the better for the richer mate. Money's the cry. Good stock to bad is wed And bad to good, till all the world's cross-bred. No wonder if the country's breed declines- Mixed metal, Kyrnos, that but dimly shines.

Rash, angry words, and spoken out of season, When passion has usurp'd the throne of reason, Have ruin'd many. Passion is unjust, And for an idle, transitory gust Of gratified revenge, dooms us to pay With long repentance at a later day.

Restrain thy mind, and let mildness ever attend thy tongue.

Surfeit begets insolence, when prosperity comes to a bad man.

The greatest treasure you can leave your children is a sense of modesty and the advice to follow virtuous persons.

To many men well-fitting doors are not set on their tongues.

Too many tongues have gates which fly apart Too easily, and care for many things That don't concern them.

Unless the gods deceive my mind , That man is forging fetters for himself.