Explore Quotes by Hesiod

It is best to do things systematically, since we are only human, and disorder is our worst enemy.

It is not possible either to trick or escape the mind of Zeus.

Giving is good, but taking is bad and brings death.

Justice prevails over transgression when she comes to the end of the race.

A man who works evil against another works it really against himself, and bad advice is worst for the one who devised it

He is senseless who would match himself against a stronger man; for he is deprived of victory and adds suffering to disgrace.

That man is best who sees the truth himself. Good too is he who listens to wise counsel. But who is neither wise himself nor willing to ponder wisdom is not worth a straw.

He's only harming himself who's bent upon harming another

But he who neither thinks for himself nor learns from others, is a failure as a man.

He harms himself who does harm to another, and the evil plan is most harmful to the planner.

A bad neighbor is a misfortune, as much as a good one is a great blessing.

Do not put your work off till to-morrow and the day after; for a sluggish worker does not fill his barn, nor one who puts off his work: industry makes work go well, but a man who puts off work is always at hand-grips with ruin.

Before the gates of excellence the high gods have placed sweat; long is the road thereto and rough and steep at first; but when the heights are reached, then there is ease, though grievously hard in the winning.

Whoever, fleeing marriage and the sorrows that women cause, does not wish to wed comes to a deadly old age.

I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on the frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words. When I was a boy, we were taught to be discrete and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise and impatient of restraint.

The half is greater than the whole.

Never make a companion equal to a brother.

He is a fool who tries to match his strength with the stronger.

It is a hard thing for a man to be righteous, if the unrighteous man is to have the greater right.

Gossip and rumor are evil; easy to lift up, heavy to carry, and hard to put down again.

It will not always be summer: build barns.