There is no greater fame for a man than that which he wins with his footwork or the skill of his hands.
HomerRead
Strife and Confusion joined the fight, along with cruel Death, who seized one wounded man while still alive and then another man without a wound, while pulling the feet of one more corpse out from the fight. The clothes Death wore around her shoulders were dyed red with human blood.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote illustrates the inevitability of death and chaos in life, highlighting the randomness and brutality of existence.
In this vivid depiction from Homer's work, there is a powerful representation of the chaos of war and the indiscriminate nature of death. Strife, confusion, and death are personified as characters that mercilessly engage in the battle, emphasizing the idea that both the injured and the seemingly untouched can fall victim to mortality. This quote invites reflection on the fragility of life and the violent realities of human conflict, leaving us to ponder the arbitrary nature of survival and demise.
Themes
DeathChaosWarMortalityStrife
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the consequences of war, one might reference this quote to highlight the harsh realities faced by soldiers.
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!
HomerRead
Be strong, saith my heart; I am a soldier; I have seen worse sights than this.
HomerRead
Sing, O muse, of the rage of Achilles, son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans.
HomerRead
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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