Aristophanes Quotes

Weak mortals, chained to the earth, creatures of clay as frail as the foliage of the woods, you unfortunate race, whose life is but darkness, as unreal as a shadow, the illusion of a dream.

Women, you overheated dipsomaniacs, never passing up a chance to wangle a drink, a great boon to bartenders but a bane to us--not to mention our crockery and our woolens!

It should not prejudice my voice that I'm not born a man, if I say something advantageous to the present situation. For I'm taxed too, and as a toll provide men for the nation.

The old are in a second childhood.

Wealth--the most excellent of all gods.

Tis not for us to warn a wilful sinner; We stay him not, but let him run his course, Till by misfortunes rous'd, his conscience wakes, And prompts him to appease th' offended gods.

Chorus of women: [...] Oh! my good, gallant Lysistrata, and all my friends, be ever like a bundle of nettles; never let you anger slacken; the wind of fortune blown our way.

Ah! the Generals! they are numerous, but not good for much!

Even if you persuade me, you won’t persuade me.

A fox is subtlety itself.

I saw a cavalry captain buy vegetable soup on horseback. He carried the whole mess home in his helmet.

An actor should refine public taste.

A slave is but half a man.

What unlooked-for things do happen, to be sure, in a long life!

Do not take a blind guide.

The love of wine is a good man's failing.

It is right that the good should be happy, that the wicked and the impious on the other hand, should be miserable; that is a truth, I believe, which no one will gainsay.

There's no art where there's no fee.

Poverty, the most fearful monster that ever drew breath.

A man should be able to stand up under any disaster for his country's good.

The truth is forced upon us, very quickly, by a foe.

One must not try to trick misfortune, but resign oneself to it with good grace.

If a man owes me money, I never seem to forget. But if I do the owing, I somehow never remember.

Woman is adept at getting money for herself and will not easily let herself be deceived; she understands deceit too well herself.

Children have a master to teach them, grown-ups have the poets.

When men drink wine they are rich, they are busy, they push lawsuits, they are happy, they are friends.

You cannot make a crab walk straight.

[Y]ou [man] are fool enough, it seems, to dare to war with [woman=] me, when for your faithful ally you might win me easily.

A truce to idle phrases!

Old age is but a second childhood.

You can't have anything else to say: you've poured out every drop of what you know.

It is the compelling power of great thoughts and ideas to engender phrases of equal size.

I would treat her like an egg, the shell of which we remove before eating it; I would take off her mask and then kiss her pretty face.

Shall I crack any of those old jokes, master, At which the audience never fail to laugh?

You will never make the crab walk straight.

Meton (astronomer in 5th century BC): With the straight ruler I set to work To make the circle four-cornered .

Do not bandy words with your father, nor treat him as a dotard, nor reproach the old man, who has cherished you, with his age.

How can I study from below, that which is above?

An ancient tradition declares that every idiot blunder we pass into law will sooner or later redound to Athens' profit.

Evil events from evil causes spring, And what you suffer flows from what you've done.

A demagogue must be neither an educated nor an honest man; he has to be an ignoramus and a rogue.

These impossible women! How they do get around us! The poet was right: Can't live with them, or without them.

The truth is forced upon us very quickly by a foe.

It is from their foes, not their friends, that cities learn the lesson of building high walls

Chorus of old men: How true the saying: 'Tis impossible to live with the baggages, impossible to live without 'em.

Comedy too can sometimes discern what is right.

Shrines! Shrines! Surely you don't believe in the gods. What's your argument? Where's your proof?

If it is necessary for us to do anything [in view of peace], direct us and architect.πρὸς τάδ’ ἡμῖν, εἴ τι χρὴ δρᾶν, φράζε κἀρχιτεκτόνει.

What can you answer? Now be careful, don’t arouse my spite, Or with my slipper I’ll take you napping, faces slappingLeft and right.