I love the old way best, the simple way of poison, where we too are strong as men.
EuripidesRead
Mankind . . . possesses two supreme blessings. First of these is the goddess Demeter, or Earth whichever name you choose to call her by. It was she who gave to man his nourishment of grain. But after her there came the son of Semele, who matched her present by inventing liquid wine as his gift to man. For filled with that good gift, suffering mankind forgets its grief; from it comes sleep; with it oblivion of the troubles of the day. There is no other medicine for misery.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the dual blessings of nourishment from the earth and the solace of wine, highlighting their roles in alleviating human suffering.
Euripides emphasizes that mankind is blessed with two essential comforts: the nourishing gifts of the earth, represented by Demeter, and the soothing qualities of wine, which allows people to forget their troubles. The quote suggests that while food sustains the body, wine offers a temporary escape from life's hardships, serving as a unique remedy for emotional pain.
Themes
MankindBlessingsNourishmentWineHappinessSufferingGrief
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a toast at a gathering to celebrate the joys of food and drink.
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