There is no greater fame for a man than that which he wins with his footwork or the skill of his hands.
HomerRead
Modesty is of no use to a beggar.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Being modest does not help those in desperate situations; they need to be assertive to improve their circumstances.
This quote by Homer suggests that in extreme poverty or need, humility and modesty do not serve a person well. Instead, individuals must be bold and assertive, seeking what they need rather than remaining passive or self-effacing. The essence is that in times of dire need, survival and improvement call for a more assertive and less modest approach.
Themes
ModestyBeggarAssertivenessPovertySurvival
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about overcoming adversity.
More from Homer
All quotes βFor Fate has wove the thread of life with pain,_x000D_ _x000D_ And twins ev'n from the birth are Misery and Man!
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Be strong, saith my heart; I am a soldier; I have seen worse sights than this.
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Sing, O muse, of the rage of Achilles, son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans.
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There is nothing nobler or more admirable than when two people who see eye to eye keep house as man and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends.
HomerRead
[I]t is the wine that leads me on, the wild wine that sets the wisest man to sing at the top of his lungs, laugh like a fool β it drives the man to dancing... it even tempts him to blurt out stories better never told.
HomerRead
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