Euripides

Euripides (Greek: Εὐριπίδης; c. 480 BC–406 BC) was a Greek playwright.

• ἁγὼ οὔτινι θύω πλὴν ἐμοὶ, θεοῖσι δ᾽ οὔ,
  καὶ τῇ μεγίστῃ γαστρὶ τῇδε δαιμόνων.
  • I sacrifice to no god save myself —
    And to my belly, greatest of deities.
  • Cyclops (c. 424-23 BC) l. 334 (ed. B. E. Stevenson, 1948)

    To what other God but to myself
    And this great belly, first of deities,
    Should I be bound to sacrifice?
    (tr. P. B. Shelley, wr. 1819; pub. 1824)

• I care for riches, to make gifts
  To friends, or lead a sick man back to health
  With ease and plenty. Else small aid is wealth
  For daily gladness; once a man be done
  With hunger, rich and poor are all as one.
  • Electra (413 BC) l. ? (tr. Gilbert Murray, 1906)

• On behalf of all those dead
  who learned their hatred of women long ago,
  for those who hate them now, for those unborn
  who shall live to hate them yet, I now declare
  my firm conviction: neither earth nor ocean
  produces a creature as savage and monstrous
  as woman.
  • Hecuba (424 BC), ll. 1177-1182 (tr. William Arrowsmith, 1956)

    Let me tell you, if anyone in the past has spoken
    ill of women, or speaks so now or will speak so
    in the future, I’ll sum it up for him: Neither sea
    nor land has ever produced a more monstrous
    creature than woman.
    (tr. Jay Kardan and Laura-Gray Street, 2011, in Didaskalia, vol. 8 no. 32)

• λόγος γάρ ἐστιν οὐκ ἐμός, σοφὸν δ᾽ ἔπος,
  δεινῆς ἀνάγκης οὐδὲν ἰσχύειν πλέον.
  • Nothing has more strength than dire necessity.
  • Helen (412 BC), l. 510 (tr. Richmond Lattimore, 1956), quoting "a saying"

• Man's most valuable trait
  is a judicious sense of what not to believe.
  • Helen, ll. 1617-1618 (tr. Richmond Lattimore, 1956)

    There is naught more serviceable to mankind than a prudent distrust. (tr. E. P. Coleridge, 1891)

• Who can decide a plea or judge a speech until he has heard plainly from both sides?
  • Heraclidæ (c. 428 BC), ll. 179-180 (tr. David Kovacs), quoted by Aristophanes in The Wasps

    In case of dissension, never dare to judge till you've heard the other side. —Forbes, vol. 86 no. 10 (15 Nov. 1960) p. 70

• Leave no stone unturned.
  • Heraclidæ (c. 428 BC), l. 1002 (Bartlett's, 1892)

• Ares hates those who hesitate.
  • Heraclidæ (c. 428 BC), l. 722 (ed. H. L. Mencken, 1942, '60)

    Ares hates the sluggard most of all. (tr. David Kovacs)

• Yet do I hold that mortal foolish who strives against the stress of necessity.
  • Hercules Furens, l. 281 (Bartlett's, 1892)

• O lady, nobility is thine, and thy form is the reflection of thy nature!
  • Ion (c. 421-408 BC) l. 238 (tr. E. F. Burr, 1880)

• Authority is never without hate.
  • Ion (c. 421-408 BC) l. ? (tr. Ronald F. Willetts, 1958)

• Thou didst bring me forth for all the Greeks in common, not for thyself alone.
  • Iphigenia in Aulis, l. 1386 (Bartlett's, 1892)

• A coward turns away, but a brave man's choice is danger.
  • Iphigenia in Tauris (c. 412 BC) l. 114 (tr. Richmond Lattimore, 1956)

• There is in the worst of fortune the best of chances for a happy change.
  • Iphigenia in Tauris (c. 412 BC) l. 721 (Bartlett's, 1892)

• Slight not what's near through aiming at what's far.
  • Rhesus (c. 435 BC) l. 482 (Bartlett's, 1892)

• For naught is there more sweet unto an aged sire than a daughter's love.
  • The Suppliants (tr. E. P. Coleridge, 1891)

• Naught is more hostile to a city than a despot; where he is, there are in the first place no laws common to all, but one man is tyrant, in whose keeping and in his alone the law resides, and in that case equality is at an end.
  • The Suppliants (tr. E. P. Coleridge, 1891)

• Helen: What happened in my heart, to make me leave my home
  And my own land, to follow where a stranger led?
  Rail at the goddess; be more resolute than Zeus,
  Who holds power over all other divinities
  But is himself the slave of love. Show Aphrodite
  Your indignation; me, pardon and sympathy.
  Hecabe: No; Paris was an extremely handsome man – one look,
  And your appetite became your Aphrodite. Why,
  Men's lawless lusts are all called love – it's a confusion
  Easily made.
  • Troades (c. 415 BC), ll. 946–950 and 987–990 (tr. Philip Vellacott, 1954)

• Οὔποτε φήσω γάμον εὐφραίνειν
  πλέον ἢ λυπεῖν.
  • Never say that marriage has more of joy than pain.
  • l. 238, Chorus-Leader (tr. Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald, 1960)

• Ἐχθρὰ γὰρ ἡ 'πιοῦσα μητρυιὰ τέκνοις
  τοῖς πρόσθ᾽, ἐχίδνης οὐδὲν ἠπιωτέρα.
  • A second wife
    is hateful to the children of the first,
    a viper is not more hateful.
  • l. 309, Alcestis (tr. Fitts and Fitzgerald, 1960)

• Εἰ δ᾽ Ὀρφέως μοι γλῶσσα καὶ μέλος παρῆν,
  ὥστ᾽ ἢ κόρην Δήμητρος ἢ κείνης πόσιν
  ὕμνοισι κηλήσαντά σ᾽ ἐξ Ἅιδου λαβεῖν,
  κατῆλθον ἄν, καί μ᾽ οὔθ᾽ ὁ Πλούτωνος κύων
  οὔθ᾽ οὑπὶ κώπῃ ψυχοπομπὸς ἂν Χάρων
  ἔσχον, πρὶν ἐς φῶς σὸν καταστῆσαι βίον.
  • Oh, if I had Orpheus' voice and poetry
    with which to move the Dark Maid and her Lord,
    I'd call you back, dear love, from the world below.
    I'd go down there for you. Charôn or the grim
    King's dog could not prevent me then
    from carrying you up into the fields of light.
  • l. 358, Admetus (tr. Fitts and Fitzgerald, 1960)

    Had I the tongue, the tuneful yoice of Orpheus to charm Demeter's daughter or her husband by my lay and bring thee back from Hades, I had gone down, nor Pluto's hound, nor Charon, ferryman of souls, whose hand is on the oar, had held me back, till to the light I had restored thee alive. (tr. E. P. Coleridge, 1891)

• Οὐ γάρ τι πρῶτος οὐδὲ λοίσθιος βροτῶν
  γυναικὸς ἐσθλῆς ἤμπλακες: γίγνωσκε δὲ
  ὡς πᾶσιν ἡμῖν κατθανεῖν ὀφείλεται.
  • Thou art by no means the first nor yet shalt be the last of men to lose a wife of worth; know this, we all of us are debtors unto death.
  • l. 416, Chorus-Leader (tr. E. P. Coleridge, 1891)

    Thou shalt not be the last, nor yet the first,
    To lose a noble wife. Be brave, and know
    To die is but a debt that all men owe.
    (tr. Gilbert Murray, 1915)

    Not first of mortals thou, nor shalt be last
    To lose a noble wife; and, be thou sure,
    From us, from all, this debt is due — to die.
    (tr. Arthur S. Way, 1894)

    You are neither the first nor the last of mortals
    to lose a noble wife; understand that
    everyone is obliged to die.
    (tr. Ruby Blondell, 1999)

• Κούφα σοι χθὼν ἐπάνωθε πέσοι.
  • Light be the earth upon you, lightly rest.
  • l. 462, Chorus (tr. Fitts and Fitzgerald, 1960)

• Μάτην ἄρ᾽ οἱ γέροντες εὔχονται θανεῖν,
  γῆρας ψέγοντες καὶ μακρὸν χρόνον βίου:
  ἢν δ᾽ ἐγγὺς ἔλθῃ θάνατος, οὐδεὶς βούλεται
  θνῄσκειν, τὸ γῆρας δ᾽ οὐκέτ᾽ ἔστ᾽ αὐτοῖς βαρύ.
  • Old men's prayers for death are lying prayers, in which they abuse old age and long extent of life. But when death draws near, not one is willing to die, and age no longer is a burden to them.
  • l. 669, Admetus (Bartlett's, 1892)

• Κακῶς ἀκούειν οὐ μέλει θανόντι μοι.
  • Dishonour will not trouble me, once I am dead.
  • l. 726, Pheres (tr. Fitts and Fitzgerald, 1960)

• Βροτοῖς ἅπασι κατθανεῖν ὀφείλεται,
  κοὐκ ἔστι θνητῶν ὅστις ἐξεπίσταται
  τὴν αὔριον μέλλουσαν εἰ βιώσεται:
  τὸ τῆς τύχης γὰρ ἀφανὲς οἷ προβήσεται,
  κἄστ᾽ οὐ διδακτὸν οὐδ᾽ ἁλίσκεται τέχνῃ.
  • Death is the common debt of man; no mortal really knows if he will live to see the morrow's light; for Fortune's issues are not in our ken, beyond the teacher's rule they lie, no art can master them.
  • ll. 783-6, Heracles (tr. E. P. Coleridge, 1891)

• Τὸν καθ᾽ ἡμέραν
  βίον λογίζου σόν, τὰ δ᾽ ἄλλα τῆς τύχης.
  • Count the present day thine own, the rest to Fortune yield.
  • l. 788, Heracles (tr. E. P. Coleridge, 1891)

    Today's today. Tomorrow we may be
    Ourselves gone down the drain of Eternity.
    (tr. Fitts and Fitzgerald, 1960)

• Ἐγὼ καὶ διὰ μούσας
  καὶ μετάρσιος ᾖξα, καὶ
  πλείστων ἁψάμενος λόγων
  κρεῖσσον οὐδὲν Ἀνάγκας.
  • I have found power in the mysteries of thought,
    Exaltation in the changing of the Muses;
    I have been versed in the reasonings of men;
    But Fate is stronger than anything I have known.
  • ll. 962–65, Chorus (tr. Fitts and Fitzgerald, 1960)

• Χρόνος μαλάξει, νῦν δ᾽ ἔθ᾽ ἡβάσκει, κακόν.
  • Time cancels young pain.
  • l. 1085, Heracles (tr. Fitts and Fitzgerald, 1960)

• Ἥπερ μεγίστη γίγνεται σωτηρία,
  ὅταν γυνὴ πρὸς ἄνδρα μὴ διχοστατῇ.
  • The greatest safeguard this when wife and husband do agree.
    • ll. 14–15, Nurse (tr. E. P. Coleridge, 1891)

    Surely this doth bind,
    Through all ill days, the hurts of humankind,
    When man and woman in one music move. (tr. Gilbert Murray, 1906)

• Νέα γὰρ φροντὶς οὐκ ἀλγεῖν φιλεῖ.
  • The soul of the young is no friend to sorrow.
    • l. 48, Nurse (tr. Coleridge)

• Παλαιὰ καινῶν λείπεται κηδευμάτων.
  • Old ties give way to new.
    • ll. 76, Attendant (tr. Coleridge)

• Ἀπωλόμεσθ᾽ ἄρ᾽, εἰ κακὸν προσοίσομεν
  νέον παλαιῷ, πρὶν τόδ᾽ ἐξηντληκέναι.
  • Undone are we, if to old woes fresh ones we add, ere we have drained the former to the dregs.
    • ll. 78–79, Nurse (tr. Coleridge)

• Τῶν γὰρ μετρίων πρῶτα μὲν εἰπεῖν
  τοὔνομα νικᾷ, χρῆσθαί τε μακρῷ
  λῷστα βροτοῖσιν.
  • Moderate fortune has a name that is fairest on the tongue, and in practice it is by far the most beneficial thing for mortals.
    • ll. 125–27, Nurse (tr. David Kovacs, 1994)

• Τὰ δ᾽ ὑπερβάλλοντ᾽
  οὐδένα καιρὸν δύναται θνητοῖς,
  μείζους δ᾽ ἄτας, ὅταν ὀργισθῇ
  δαίμων οἴκοις, ἀπέδωκεν.
  • But greatness that doth o'erreach itself, brings no blessing to mortal men; but pays a penalty of greater ruin whenever fortune is wroth with a family.
    • ll. 127–30, Nurse (tr. Coleridge)

• Καίτοι τάδε μὲν κέρδος ἀκεῖσθαι
  μολπαῖσι βροτούς.
  • This were surely a gain, to heal men's wounds by music's spell.
    • ll. 199–200, Nurse (tr. Coleridge)

• Χρὴ δὲ ξένον μὲν κάρτα προσχωρεῖν πόλει.
  • A stranger most of all should adopt a city's views.
    • l. 222, Medea (tr. Coleridge)

• Πάντων δ᾽ ὅσ᾽ ἔστ᾽ ἔμψυχα καὶ γνώμην ἔχει
  γυναῖκές ἐσμεν ἀθλιώτατον φυτόν:
  ἃς πρῶτα μὲν δεῖ χρημάτων ὑπερβολῇ
  πόσιν πρίασθαι, δεσπότην τε σώματος [...]
  κἀν τῷδ᾽ ἀγὼν μέγιστος, ἢ κακὸν λαβεῖν
  ἢ χρηστόν.
  • Of all things that have life and sense we women are the most hapless creatures; first must we buy a husband at an exorbitant price, and o'er ourselves a tyrant set which is an evil worse than the first; and herein lies the most important issue, whether bur choice be good or bad.
    • ll. 230–33, 235–36, Medea (tr. Coleridge)

    Of all things upon earth that bleed and grow,
    A herb most bruised is woman. We must pay
    Our store of gold, hoarded for that one day,
    To buy us some man's love; and lo, they bring
    A master of our flesh! There comes the sting
    Of the whole shame. And then the jeopardy,
    For good or ill, what shall that master be.
    (tr. Gilbert Murray)

• Ὡς τρὶς ἂν παρ᾿ ἀσπίδα
  στῆναι θέλοιμ᾿ ἂν μᾶλλον ἢ τεκεῖν ἅπαξ.
  • I would gladly take my stand in battle array three times o'er, than once give birth.
    • ll. 250–51, Medea (tr. Coleridge)

• Κρεῖσσον δέ μοι νῦν πρός σ᾽ ἀπεχθέσθαι, γύναι,
  ἢ μαλθακισθένθ᾽ ὕστερον μεταστένειν.
  • 'Tis better for me to incur thy hatred now, lady, than to soften my heart and bitterly repent it hereafter.
  • ll. 290–91, Creon (tr. Coleridge)

• Γυνὴ γὰρ ὀξύθυμος, ὡς δ᾽ αὔτως ἀνήρ,
  ῥᾴων φυλάσσειν ἢ σιωπηλὸς σοφή.
  • For cunning woman, and man likewise, is easier to guard against when quick-tempered than when taciturn.
    • ll. 319–20, Creon (tr. Coleridge)

• Φεῦ φεῦ, βροτοῖς ἔρωτες ὡς κακὸν μέγα.
  • Ah me! ah me! to mortal man how dread a scourge is love!
    • l. 330, Medea (tr. Coleridge)

• Πρὸς δὲ καὶ πεφύκαμεν
  γυναῖκες, ἐς μὲν ἔσθλ᾽ ἀμηχανώταται,
  κακῶν δὲ πάντων τέκτονες σοφώταται.
  • We are women, unable to perform noble deeds, but most skilful architects of every sort of harm.
    • l. 407, Medea (tr. Kovacs)

• Ἄνω ποταμῶν ἱερῶν χώρονσι παγαί.
  • The fountains of sacred rivers flow upwards.
    • l. 410, Chorus (Cassell's, 1907)

• Δεινή τις ὀργὴ καὶ δυσίατος πέλει,
  ὅταν φίλοι φίλοισι συμβάλωσ᾽ ἔριν.
  • There is a something terrible and past all cure, when quarrels arise 'twixt those who are near and dear.
    • ll. 520–21, Chorus (tr. Coleridge)

• Χρῆν τἄρ᾽ ἄλλοθέν ποθεν βροτοὺς
  παῖδας τεκνοῦσθαι, θῆλυ δ᾽ οὐκ εἶναι γένος:
  χοὔτως ἂν οὐκ ἦν οὐδὲν ἀνθρώποις κακόν.
  • Men should have begotten children from some other source, no female race existing; thus would no evil ever have fallen on mankind.
    • ll. 573–76 (tr. Coleridge)

• Ἐμοὶ γὰρ ὅστις ἄδικος ὢν σοφὸς λέγειν
  πέφυκε, πλείστην ζημίαν ὀφλισκάνει.
  • To me a wicked man who is also eloquent seems the most guilty of them all.
    • ll. 580–81, Medea (tr. Philip Vellacott, 1963)

• Κακοῦ γὰρ ἀνδρὸς δῶρ᾽ ὄνησιν οὐκ ἔχει.
  • The gifts of a bad man bring no good with them.
    • l. 618, Medea (tr. Morris H. Morgan)

• Ἔρωτες ὑπὲρ μὲν ἄγαν ἐλθόντες οὐκ εὐδοξίαν
  οὐδ᾽ ἀρετὰν παρέδωκαν ἀνδράσιν.
  • When love is in excess it brings a man nor honor nor any worthiness.
    • ll. 627–28, Chorus (Bartlett's, 14th ed. 1968)

• Στέργοι δέ με σωφροσύνα, δώρημα κάλλιστον θεῶν.
  • Moderation, the noblest gift of Heaven.
    • l. 636, Chorus (tr. Georgiana Chatterton, 1863)

• Ὦ πατρίς, ὦ δώματα, μὴ
  δῆτ᾽ ἄπολις γενοίμαν
  τὸν ἀμηχανίας ἔχουσα
  δυσπέρατον αἰῶ,
  οἰκτρότατόν <γ᾽> ἀχέων.
  • O my country, O my own dear home! God grant I may never be an outcast from my city, leading that cruel helpless life, whose every day is misery.
    • ll. 645–49, Chorus (tr. Coleridge)

• Μό-
  χθων δ᾽ οὐκ ἄλλος ὕπερθεν ἢ
  γᾶς πατρίας στέρεσθαι.
  • Of troubles none is greater than to be robbed of one’s native land.
    • l. 651, Chorus (tr. Kovacs)

    For nothing is like the sorrow or supersedes the sadness of losing your native land. (tr. Paul Roche, 1974)

• Οὐ γὰρ γελᾶσθαι τλητὸν ἐξ ἐχθρῶν.
  • I cannot endure the taunts of enemies.
    • l. 797, Medea (tr. Coleridge)

• Γυνὴ δὲ θῆλυ κἀπὶ δακρύοις ἔφυ.
  • Woman is a weak creature, ever given to tears.
    • l. 934, Medea (tr. Coleridge)

• Πείθειν δῶρα καὶ θεοὺς λόγος.
  • It is said that gifts persuade even the gods.
    • l. 964, Medea (Cassell's, 1907)

• Χρυσὸς δὲ κρείσσων μυρίων λόγων βροτοῖς.
  • O'er men's minds gold holds more potent sway than countless words.
    • l. 965, Medea (tr. Coleridge)

• Καὶ μανθάνω μὲν οἷα τολμήσω κακά,
  θυμὸς δὲ κρείσσων τῶν ἐμῶν βουλευμάτων,
  ὅσπερ μεγίστων αἴτιος κακῶν βροτοῖς.
  • I know, indeed, the evil of that I purpose; but my inclination gets the better of my judgment.
    • ll. 1078–80, Medea (Bartlett's, 1892)

• θνητῶν γὰρ οὐδείς ἐστιν εὐδαίμων ἀνήρ.
  • Amongst mortals no man is happy.
    • l. 1228, Messenger (tr. Coleridge)

• Χαλεπὰ γὰρ βροτοῖς ὁμογενῆ μιά-
  σματ᾽, ἕπεται δ᾽ ἅμ᾽ αὐτοφόνταις ξυνῳ-
  δὰ θεόθεν πίτνοντ᾽ ἐπὶ δόμοις ἄχη.
  • Grievous for mortals is the stain of kindred blood. For the murderers are dogged by woes harmonious with their deeds, sent by the gods upon their houses.
    • ll. 1268–70, Chorus (tr. Kovacs)

• Τῶν δ᾽ ἀδοκήτων πόρον ηὗρε θεός.
  • For the unlooked-for god finds out a way.
    • l. 1418, Chorus (tr. Coleridge)

• Τίς δ᾽ οὐ σεμνὸς ἀχθεινὸς βροτῶν.
  • Reserve in man is ever galling.
    • l. 94, Hippolytus (tr. E. P. Coleridge, 1891)

• Πᾶς δ᾽ ὀδυνηρὸς βίος ἀνθρώπων
  κοὐκ ἔστι πόνων ἀνάπαυσις.
  • Man's whole life is full of anguish; no respite from his woes he finds.
    • ll. 189–90, Nurse (tr. E. P. Coleridge, 1891)

• Μοχθεῖν δὲ βροτοῖσιν ἀνάγκη.
  • Suffering for mortals is nature's iron law.
    • l. 207, Nurse (tr. E. P. Coleridge, 1891)

• Τὸ γὰρ ὀρθοῦσθαι γνώμην ὀδυνᾷ,
  τὸ δὲ μαινόμενον κακόν: ἀλλὰ κρατεῖ
  μὴ γιγνώσκοντ᾽ ἀπολέσθαι.
  • Tis painful coming to one's senses again, and madness, evil though it be, has this advantage, that one has no knowledge of reason's overthrow.
    • ll. 247–49, Nurse (tr. E. P. Coleridge, 1891)

• Χρῆν γὰρ μετρίας εἰς ἀλλήλους
  φιλίας θνητοὺς ἀνακίρνασθαι
  καὶ μὴ πρὸς ἄκρον μυελὸν ψυχῆς.
  • Mortal men should pledge themselves to moderate friendships only, not to such as reach the very heart's core.
    • ll. 253–55, Nurse (tr. E. P. Coleridge, 1891)

• Οὕτω τὸ λίαν ἧσσον ἐπαινῶ
  τοῦ μηδὲν ἄγαν.
  • I do not praise excess so much as moderation.
    • ll. 264–65, Nurse (tr. E. P. Coleridge, 1891)

• Ὅταν γὰρ αἰσχρὰ τοῖσιν ἐσθλοῖσιν δοκῇ,
  ἦ κάρτα δόξει τοῖς κακοῖς γ᾽ εἶναι καλά.
  • For when the noble countenance disgrace, poor folk of course will think that it is right.
    • ll. 411–12, Phaedra (tr. E. P. Coleridge, 1891)

• Μισῶ δὲ καὶ τὰς σώφρονας μὲν ἐν λόγοις,
  λάθρᾳ δὲ τόλμας οὐ καλὰς κεκτημένας.
  • Those too I hate who make profession of purity, though in secret reckless sinners.
    • ll. 413–14, Phaedra (tr. E. P. Coleridge, 1891)

• Mόνον δὲ τοῦτό φασ᾽ ἁμιλλᾶσθαι βίῳ,
  γνώμην δικαίαν κἀγαθήν ὅτῳ παρῇ.
  • One thing only, they say, competes in value with life, the possession of a heart blameless and good.
    • ll. 426-27, Phaedra (tr. David Kovacs, 1995)

• Τὸ σῶφρον ὡς ἁπανταχοῦ καλὸν
  καὶ δόξαν ἐσθλὴν ἐν βροτοῖς καρπίζεται.
  • How fair is chastity however viewed, whose fruit is good repute amongst men.
    • ll. 431–32, Chorus (tr. E. P. Coleridge, 1891)

• Κἀν βροτοῖς
  αἱ δεύτεραί πως φροντίδες σοφώτεραι.
  • In this world second thoughts, it seems, are best.
    • l. 436, Nurse (tr. David Grene, 1942)

    Among mortals second thoughts are the wisest. (tr. T. A. W. Buckley, 1850)
    Second thoughts are ever wiser. (Bartlett's, 1892)
    Among mortals second thoughts are wisest. (Hoyt's, 1882)

• Ἐν σοφοῖσι γὰρ
  τάδ᾽ ἐστὶ θνητῶν, λανθάνειν τὰ μὴ καλά.
  • 'Tis part of human wisdom to conceal the deed of shame.
    • ll. 465–66, Nurse (tr. E. P. Coleridge, 1891)

• Εἰσὶν δ᾽ ἐπῳδαὶ καὶ λόγοι θελκτήριοι.
  • For there are charms and spells to soothe the soul.
    • l. 478, Nurse (tr. E. P. Coleridge, 1891)

• Ὀνάσθαι, μὴ μαθεῖν, βούλου, τέκνον.
  • Be content with help, not knowledge.
    • l. 517, Nurse (tr. Arthur S. Way, 1894)

• Τοι κάλ᾽ ἐν πολλοῖσι κάλλιον λέγειν.
  • A virtuous tale grows fairer told to many.
    • l. 610. Hippolytus (tr. E. P. Coleridge, 1891)

• Ἡ γλῶσσ᾽ ὀμώμοχ᾽, ἡ δὲ φρὴν ἀνώμοτος.
  • 'Twas but my tongue, 'twas not my soul that swore.
    • l. 612, Hippolytus (tr. Gilbert Murray, 1902)

    My tongue an oath did take, but not my heart. (tr. E. P. Coleridge, 1891)

    My tongue swore, but my mind was still unpledged. (tr. David Grene, 1942)

• Ἁμαρτεῖν εἰκὸς ἀνθρώπους, τέκνον.
  • To err is only human, child.
    • l. 615, Nurse (tr. E. P. Coleridge, 1891)

• Πρὸς τὰς τύχας γὰρ τὰς φρένας κεκτήμεθα.
  • The credit we get for wisdom is measured by our success.
    • l. 701, Nurse (tr. E. P. Coleridge, 1891)

• Δεινὸν σοφιστὴν εἶπας, ὅστις εὖ φρονεῖν
  τοὺς μὴ φρονοῦντας δυνατός ἐστ᾽ ἀναγκάσαι.
  • A very master in his craft the man, who can force fools to be wise!
    • ll. 921–22, Hippolytus (tr. E. P. Coleridge, 1891)

• Ὅταν δὲ σὺ στένῃς,
  ἡμᾶς παρόντας χρή σε νουθετεῖν φίλα·
  ἐπικουρίαι γὰρ αἵδε τοῖς φίλοις καλαί.
  • Love is all we have, the only way
    that each can help the other.
    • l. 298 (tr. William Arrowsmith, 1958)

• — Δεινὸν οἱ πολλοί, κακούργους ὅταν ἔχωσι προστάτας.
  — Ἀλλ᾽ ὅταν χρηστοὺς λάβωσι, χρηστὰ βουλεύουσ᾽ ἀεί.
  • Orestes: A terrible thing is the mob, when it has villains to lead it.
    Pylades: Aye, but with honest leaders its counsels are honest.
    • ll. 772-73 (tr. E. P. Coleridge, 1891)

• Ὅταν γὰρ ἡδὺς τοῖς λόγοις, φρονῶν κακῶς
  πείθῃ τὸ πλῆθος, τῇ πόλει κακὸν μέγα.
  • When one with honeyed words but evil mind
    Persuades the mob, great woes befall the state.
    • l. 907 (Harbottle's, 1897)

• Ἓν μὲν μέγιστον, οὐκ ἔχει παρρησίαν.
  • But this is slavery, not to speak one’s thought.
  • Line 392, Jocasta (tr. Elizabeth Wyckoff, 1958)

    Who dares not speak his free thoughts is a slave. (tr. R. Potter, 1823)

• Ἁπλοῦς ὁ μῦθος τῆς ἀληθείας ἔφυ,
  κοὐ ποικίλων δεῖ τἄνδιχ᾽ ἑρμηνευμάτων
  • The words of truth are simple, and justice needs no subtle interpretations, for it hath a fitness in itself.
  • Lines 469–470, Polyneices (tr. E. P. Coleridge, 1891)

• But cleverness is not wisdom, nor is the thinking on things unfit for mortals.
  • Line 395 (tr. T. A. W. Buckley, 1850)

• Dionysus: He who believes needs no explanation.
  Pentheus: What's the worth in believing worthless things?
  Dionysus: Much worth, but not worth telling you, it seems.
  • Line 472 (tr. Colin Teevan, 2002)

• Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish.
  • Lines 479-480 (tr. William Arrowsmith, 1958)

    To the fool, he who speaks wisdom will sound foolish. (Bartlett's, 13th ed. 1955)

    He were a fool, methinks, who would utter wisdom to a fool. (tr. E. P. Coleridge, 1891)

    Wise words being brought to blinded eyes will seem as things of nought. (tr. Gilbert Murray, 1902)

• Slow but sure moves the might of the gods.
  • Line 882 (Bartlett's, 14th ed. 1968)

    Slowly but surely withal moveth the might of the gods. (Bartlett's, 9th ed. 1892)

• χρηστοῖσι δούλοις συμφορὰ τὰ δεσποτῶν.
  • The misfortunes of their masters are a concern to good servants.
  • Line 1028 (tr. T. A. W. Buckley, 1850) note: the original sentence does not contain any verb

• Humility, a sense of reverence before the sons of heaven — of all the prizes that a mortal man might win, these, I say, are wisest; these are best.
  • Line 1150 (tr. William Arrowsmith, 1958)

• The company of just and righteous men is better than wealth and a rich estate.
  • Ægeus, frag. 7 (Bartlett's, 9th ed. 1892)

• κακὸν γυναῖκα πρὸς νέαν ζεῦξαι νέον·
  μακρὰ γὰρ ἰσχὺς μᾶλλον ἀρσένων μένει,
  θήλεια δ' ἥβη θᾶσσον ἐκλείπει δέμας.
  • To mate a youth with a young wife is ill;
    Seeing a man's strength lasteth, while the bloom
    Of beauty quickly leaves a woman's form.
  • Æolus, frag. 22 (tr. J. A. Symonds, 1879)

• A bad beginning makes a bad ending.
  • Æolus, frag. 32 (Bartlett's, 1892)

• Time will explain it all. He is a talker, and needs no questioning before he speaks.
  • Æolus, frag. 38 (Bartlett's, 1892)

• Φεῦ φεῦ, παλαιὸς αἶνος ὡς καλῶς ἔχει·
  γέροντες οὐδέν ἐσμεν ἄλλο πλὴν ψόφος
  καὶ σχῆμ', ὀνείρων δ᾽ ἕρπομεν μιμήματα·
  νοῦς δ᾽ οὐκ ἔνεστιν, οἰόμεσθα δ᾽ εὐ φρονεῖν.
  • Alas, how right the ancient saying is:
    We, who are old, are nothing else but noise
    And shape. Like mimicries of dreams we go,
    And have no wits, although we think us wise.
  • Æolus, frag. (tr. C. M. Bowra, 1938)

• The nobly born must nobly meet his fate.
  • Alcmene, frag. 100 (Bartlett's, 1892)

• Waste not fresh tears over old griefs.
  • Alexander, frag. 44 (Bartlett's, 1892)

• Ἡδύ τοι σωθέντα μεμνῆσθαι πόνων.
  • Sweet is the remembrance of troubles when you are in safety.
  • Andromeda, frag. 10, l. 2 (Cassell's, 1907)

• ὅσοι γὰρ εἰς ἔρωτα πίπτουσιν βροτῶν
  ἐσθλῶν ὅταν τύχωσι τῶν ἐρωμένων
  οὐκ ἔσθ' ὁποίας λείπεται τῆς ἡδονῆς.
  • When it befalls poor mortal men to love,
    Should they find worthy objects for their loving,
    Then is there nothing left of joy to long for.
  • Andromeda, frag. 147 (tr. J. A. Symonds, 1879)

• Woman is woman's natural ally.
  • Alope, frag. 109 (Bartlett's, 1892)

• Man's best possession is a sympathetic wife.
  • Antigone, frag. 164 (Bartlett's, 1892)

• Ignorance of one's misfortunes is clear gain.
  • Antiope, frag. 204 (Bartlett's, 1892); cf. Davenant

• Events will take their course, it is no good of being angry at them; he is happiest who wisely turns them to the best account.
  • Bellerophon, frag. 298, in Plutarch, Moralia, "De tranquillitate animi" (tr. A. R. Shilleto, 1888)

• Φησίν τις εἶναι δῆτ᾽ ἐν οὐρανῷ θεούς;
  οὐκ εἰσίν, οὐκ εἴσ᾽, εἴ τις ἀνθρώπων θέλει
  μὴ τῷ παλαιῷ μῶρος ὢν χρῆσθαι λόγῳ.
  σκέψασθε δ᾽ αὐτοί, μὴ ἐπὶ τοῖς ἐμοῖς λόγοις
  γνώμην ἔχοντες. φήμ᾽ ἐγὼ τυραννίδα
  κτείνειν τε πλείστους κτημάτων τ᾿ ἀποστερεῖν
  ὅρκους τε παραβαίνοντας ἐκπορθεῖν πόλεις·
  καὶ ταῦτα δρῶντες μᾶλλόν εἰσ᾽ εὐδαίμονες.
  τῶν εὐσεβούντων ἡσυχῇ καθ᾽ ἡμέραν.
  πόλεις τε μικρὰς οἶδα τιμώσας θεούς,
  αἳ μειζόνων κλύουσι δυσσεβεστέρων
  λόγχης ἀριθμῷ πλείονος κρατούμεναι.
  οἶμαι δ᾽ ἂν ὑμᾶς, εἴ τις ἀργὸς ὢν θεοῖς
  εὔχοιτο καὶ μὴ χειρὶ συλλέγοι βίον,
  μαθεῖν ἂν ὡς οὐκ εἰσίν. αἱ δ᾽ εὐπραξίαι
  τὰ θεῖα πυργοῦσ᾽ αἱ κακαί τε συμφοραί.
  • Doth some one say that there be gods above?
    There are not; no, there are not. Let no fool,
    Led by the old false fable, thus deceive you.
    Look at the facts themselves, yielding my words
    No undue credence: for I say that kings
    Kill, rob, break oaths, lay cities waste by fraud,
    And doing thus are happier than those
    Who live calm pious lives day after day.
    How many little States that serve the gods
    Are subject to the godless but more strong,
    Made slaves by might of a superior army!
    And you, if any ceased from work and prayed
    To gods, nor gathered in his livelihood,
    Would learn gods are not. All Divinity
    Is built up from our good and evil luck.
  • Bellerophon, frag. (tr. J. A. Symonds, 1879; rev. C. M. Bowra, 1938)

• Try first thyself, and after call in God;
  For to the worker God himself lends aid.
  • Hippolytus, frag. 435 (Bartlett's, 1892)

• Toil, says the proverb, is the sire of fame.
  • Licymnius, frag. 477 (Bartlett's, 1892)

• A bad ending follows a bad beginning.
  • Melanippe the Wise, frag. (tr. E. F. Burr, 1880)

• Cowards do not count in battle; they are there, but not in it.
  • Meleager frag. 523 (Bartlett's, 1892)

• A woman should be good for everything at home, but abroad good for nothing.
  • Meleager, frag. 525 (Bartlett's, 1892)

• Silver and gold are not the only coin; virtue too passes current all over the world.
  • Œdipus, frag. 546 (Bartlett's, 1892)

• Every man is like the company he is wont to keep.
  • Phœnix, frag. 809 (Bartlett's, 1892)

• Ὦ φιλόζωοι βροτοὶ,
  οἱ τὴν ἐπιστείχουσαν ἡμέραν ἰδεῖν
  οὕτως ἔρως βροτοῖσιν ἐγκεῖται βίου
  • O ye life-loving mortals,
    Who ever long to see the coming day,
    Though ye be weighed down with a thousand sorrows!
    So strong the yearning of mankind for life.
  • Phœnix, frag. 12 (Harbottle's, 1897)

• Τίς δ᾽ οἶδεν εἰ ζῆν τοῦθ᾽ ὁ κέκληται θανεῖν,
  τὸ ζῆν δὲ θνῄσκειν ἐστί
  • Who knows but life be that which men call death,
    And death what men call life?
  • Phrixus, frag. 830 (Bartlett's, 1892)

    Who knows if that be life which we call death,
    And life be dying? (tr. J. A. Symonds, 1879)

• Whoso neglects learning in his youth, loses the past and is dead for the future.
  • Phrixus, frag. 927 (Bartlett's, 1892)

• The gods visit the sins of the fathers upon the children.
  • Phrixus, frag. 970 (Bartlett's, 1892)

• Πᾶσιν γὰρ εὖ φρονοῦσι συμμαχεῖ τύχη.
  • For chance fights ever on the side of the prudent.
  • Pirithous, adapted (Cassell's, 1907)

• "Η τοῖσιν εὐφρονοῦσι συμμαχεῖ τύχη.
  • Fortune truly helps those who are of good judgement.
  • Pirithous (Cassell's, 1907)

• Where two discourse, if the one's anger rise,
  The man who lets the contest fall is wise.
  • Protesilaus, frag. 656, in Plutarch, Moralia, "De liberis educandis" (tr. Several Hands, 1684)

• When good men die their goodness does not perish,
  But lives though they are gone. As for the bad,
  All that was theirs dies and is buried with them.
  • Temenidæ, frag. 734 (Bartlett's, 1892)

• ἡ γὰρ σιωπὴ τοῖς σοφοῖσ
  ἀπόκρισις.
  • Silence is an answer in the eyes of the wise.
  • Unidentified play, frag. 977 (tr. Christopher Collard and Martin Cropp, L504)

    For silence is true wisdom's best reply. (tr. R. B. Appleton, 1927)

• Sophocles said that he drew men as they ought to be; Euripides, as they are.
  • Aristotle, Poetics, ch. 25 (trans. S. H. Butcher)

• I could not bear Euripides at college. I now read my recantation. He has faults undoubtedly. But what a poet! The Medea, the Alcestis, the Troades, the Bacchæ, are alone sufficient to place him in the very first rank.
  • Thomas Babington Macaulay to Thomas Flower Ellis (8 February 1835), quoted in George Otto Trevelyan, The Life and Letters of Lord Macaulay, Volume I (1876), p. 431

• The Orestes is one of the very finest plays in the Greek language. Among those of Euripides, I should place it next to the Medea and the Bacchæ. It has some very real faults; but it possesses that strong human interest which neither Æschylus nor Sophocles,—poets in many respects far superior to Euripides,—ever gave to their dramas.
  • Thomas Babington Macaulay, quoted in George Otto Trevelyan, The Life and Letters of Lord Macaulay, Volume I (1876), p. 474

• The Bacchæ is a most glorious play. I doubt whether it be not superior to the Medea. It is often very obscure; and I am not sure that I fully understand its general scope. But, as a piece of language, it is hardly equalled in the world. And, whether it was intended to encourage or to discourage fanaticism, the picture of fanatical excitement which it exhibits has never been rivalled.
  • Thomas Babington Macaulay, quoted in George Otto Trevelyan, The Life and Letters of Lord Macaulay, Volume I (1876), pp. 474-475

• Works by Euripides at Project Gutenberg
• Article in Encyclopaedia Britannica (11th edition) at Fordham University
• Euripides-related materials at the Perseus Digital Library
• "Euripedes and His Tragedies" at TheatreHistory.com
• IMDBs List of movies based on Euripides plays
• Euripides Resources