I love the old way best, the simple way of poison, where we too are strong as men.
EuripidesRead
A second wife is hateful to the children of the first; A viper is not more hateful.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote expresses the animosity that children may feel towards a stepmother, comparing her to a venomous snake.
Euripides highlights the struggles and tensions that can arise in blended families, particularly the resentment that children may harbor towards a stepmother. The comparison to a viper underscores the intensity of this animosity, suggesting that these feelings can be deeply rooted and difficult to overcome, often complicating familial relationships.
Themes
StepmotherResentmentFamilyChildrenRelationships
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in discussions about blended families and their dynamics.
More from Euripides
All quotes →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.
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Money is far more persuasive than logical arguments.
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Those whom God wishes to destroy, he first makes mad.
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Who then will dare to say I'm weak or timid? No, they'll say I'm loyal as a friend, ruthless as a foe, so much like a hero destined for glory.
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Waste not fresh tears over old griefs.
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