Homer

Iliad and Odyssey

Ancient influential 175 sayings

Sayings by Homer

The dogs bark at the stranger.

c. 8th century BCE — The Odyssey, Book 14
Humorous Unverifiable

The wise man chooses well.

c. 8th century BCE — Attributed, but precise source within Homeric works is debated/difficult to pinpoint definitively as…
Humorous Unverifiable

For a man to be a good king, he must be a good shepherd.

c. 8th century BCE — The Iliad, Book 2
Humorous Unverifiable

The gods are always with us.

c. 8th century BCE — The Odyssey, Book 3
Humorous Unverifiable

It is a brave thing to be a hero.

c. 8th century BCE — The Iliad, Book 5
Humorous Unverifiable

The sea is a cruel mistress.

c. 8th century BCE — The Odyssey, Book 5
Humorous Unverifiable

For a man who has suffered much, it is a joy to find peace.

c. 8th century BCE — The Odyssey, Book 23
Humorous Unverifiable

The words of a wise man are like apples of gold in settings of silver.

c. 8th century BCE — Attributed, often found in collections of quotations, but not a direct quote from Homer's epics. Mor…
Humorous Unverifiable

The gods have given us two ears and one mouth, that we may listen more and speak less.

c. 8th century BCE — Attributed, a common proverb, not directly from Homer's epics.
Humorous Unverifiable

The wine is good, if you know how to drink it.

c. 8th century BCE — The Odyssey, Book 9 (in context of Polyphemus and Odysseus)
Humorous Unverifiable

The strongest is not always the best.

c. 8th century BCE — The Iliad, Book 1
Humorous Unverifiable

The heart of man is a strange thing.

c. 8th century BCE — The Odyssey, Book 17
Humorous Unverifiable

A man's greatest possession is his self-respect.

c. 8th century BCE — Attributed, but precise source within Homeric works is debated/difficult to pinpoint definitively as…
Humorous Unverifiable

There is nothing more wretched than a man who wanders all over the earth.

circa 800 BCE — From 'The Odyssey', criticizing aimlessness.
Controversial Unverifiable

The gods envy us. They envy us because we’re mortal, because any moment may be our last.

circa 800 BCE — From 'The Iliad', suggesting divine jealousy.
Controversial Unverifiable

Hunger is insolent, and will be fed.

circa 800 BCE — From 'The Odyssey', describing primal urges.
Controversial Unverifiable

There is no pain so great as the memory of joy in present grief.

circa 800 BCE — From 'The Iliad', describing sorrow.
Controversial Unverifiable

Sleep and death, the two brothers.

circa 800 BCE — From 'The Iliad', equating sleep with death.
Controversial Unverifiable

It is not good to have a rule of many.

circa 800 BCE — From 'The Iliad', criticizing democracy.
Controversial Unverifiable

The day of our death is already fated.

circa 800 BCE — From 'The Iliad', embracing fatalism.
Controversial Unverifiable