ΕΥΔΟΞΑ ΑΓΝΩΣΤΑ ΚΑΤΑΓΕΛΑΣΤΑ
Arsenius 7.16n “In war, iron is stronger for safety than gold; But for living, reason is better than wealth.” ᾿Εν μὲν πολέμῳ πρὸς ἀσφάλειαν σίδηρος χρυσοῦ κρείττων, ἐν δὲ τῷ ζῆν ὁ λόγος τοῦ πλούτου [Socrates] “You can’t fuck-up twice in a war Οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν πολέμῳ δὶς ἁμαρτάνειν Zenobius “War is tear-free” A proverb … Continue reading War, Some Proverbs
Arsenius, 34a1 “May you fall into Hades’ asshole”: [a curse]: may you die. ῞Αιδου πρωκτῷ περιπέσῃς: ἤγουν τελευτήσῃς. Note: Even though Ancient Greek prôktos can merely mean “rear end” (as in butt), it most often means ‘anus’ in comedy and insults. Also, I wanted to use something profane and given the British/American divide on arse/ass, … Continue reading Tawdry Tuesday: Proctological Proverb Edition
Michael Apostolios, Centuria 11.51 “No knife for a child: don’t delegate serious matters to the inexperienced, lest they somehow use them for their own advantage.” Μὴ παιδὶ μάχαιραν: μὴ τοῖς ἀπείροις ἐγχειρίζειν πράγματα μεγάλα, μή πως καθ’ ἑαυτῶν χρήσωνται. Suda “No knife for a child: for those who entrust to the incompetent. Eupolis also writes … Continue reading “No Knife for A Child”: A Proverb
Arsenius, 34a1 “May you fall into Hades’ asshole”: [a curse]: may you die. ῞Αιδου πρωκτῷ περιπέσῃς: ἤγουν τελευτήσῃς. Note: Even though Ancient Greek prôktos can merely mean “rear end” (as in butt), it most often means ‘anus’ in comedy and insults. Also, I wanted to use something profane and given the British/American divide on arse/ass, … Continue reading Tawdry Tuesday: Proctological Proverb Edition
Polybius, Book 33 16a fragmenta incertae sedis “20. As soon as the masses are compelled to love or hate people excessively, every excuse is sufficient for them to complete their plans. 21 But I worry that I might overlook the fact that the oft-cited saying applies to me: “who is the greater fool, the one … Continue reading Milking the He-Goat: The Only Proverb You Need for a Thursday
Arsenius 7.16n “In war, iron is stronger for safety than gold; But for living, reason is better than wealth.” ᾿Εν μὲν πολέμῳ πρὸς ἀσφάλειαν σίδηρος χρυσοῦ κρείττων, ἐν δὲ τῷ ζῆν ὁ λόγος τοῦ πλούτου [Socrates] “You can’t fuck-up twice in a war Οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν πολέμῳ δὶς ἁμαρτάνειν Zenobius “War is tear-free” A proverb … Continue reading War, Some Proverbs
Diogenianus, 2.93 “Silver springs chatter on.” A proverb applied to the uneducated who speak freely thanks to an excess of wealth.” ᾿Αργύρου κρῆναι λαλοῦσιν: ἐπὶ τῶν ἀπαιδεύτων μὲν, δι’ ὑπερβολὴν δὲ πλούτου παῤῥησιαζομένων. Zenobius, 2.70 “A bull is on your tongue”: A proverb applied to people who are not able to speak freely…. Βοῦς ἐπὶ … Continue reading Two For Tuesday: Proverbs on Speaking and Not
According to Plutarch, this conversation is taken from a lost dialogue ascribed to Aristotle, entitled, On the Soul. This passage also shows up in Nietzsche’s Birth of Tragedy chapter 3. Plutarch Consolation to Apollonius [Moralia, 115a-c] “There is also the saying you know has been passed around the mouth of many humans over the years.” … Continue reading The Proverb Behind Silenus’ Wisdom
Zenobius 1.71 “A Fox can’t be bribed” this is applied to those who are not easily captured by gifts ᾿Αλώπηξ οὐ δωροδοκεῖται: ἐπὶ τῶν οὐ ῥᾳδίως δώροις ἁλισκομένων. Zenobius 3.42 “Praise any gift someone gives you.” Δῶρον δ’ ὅ τι δῷ τις ἐπαίνει Zenobius, 4.4 “An enemy’s gifts are not gifts, and bring no benefit.” … Continue reading Naked Graces and Noble Foxes: Some Proverbs on Gifts
Diogenianus, 8.45 “When I fled the smoke, I fell into the fire”: [this proverb is applied] to those who flee rather minor troubles only to fall upon greater ones. Τὸν καπνὸν φεύγων, εἰς τὸ πῦρ ἐνέπεσον: ἐπὶ τῶν τὰ μικρὰ τῶν δεινῶν φευγόντων, καὶ εἰς μείζονα δεινὰ ἐμπιπτόντων. Arsenius 4.23f “It is strange that … Continue reading Out of the Smoke, Into the Fire: Some Proverbs
