Two Sources for Happiness

Pindar, Isthmian 5.11-16

“Valor comes to people from the gods.
Indeed, only two things nurture a lifetime’s sweetness
With healthy happiness.
When someone succeeds and hears a good report too.

Don’t try to become Zeus.
You have everything,
If a share of good comes to you.
Mortal things are proper for mortal beings.”

κρίνεται δ᾿ ἀλκὰ διὰ δαίμονας ἀνδρῶν.
δύο δέ τοι ζωᾶς ἄωτον μοῦνα ποιμαί-
νοντι τὸν ἄλπνιστον εὐανθεῖ σὺν ὄλβῳ,
εἴ τις εὖ πάσχων λόγον ἐσλὸν ἀκούῃ.
μὴ μάτευε Ζεὺς γενέσθαι· πάντ᾿ ἔχεις,
εἴ σε τούτων μοῖρ᾿ ἐφίκοιτο καλῶν.
θαντὰ θνατοῖσι πρέπει.

Black figure vase: Herakles in the center with lion skin and club. Hermes (on the left) and Athena (on the right) welcoming Heracles to Olympus.
Black-figure oenochoe, ca. 520 BC.

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