Aeschylus
Aeschylus
Aeschyluswas an ancient Greek tragedian. His plays, alongside those of Sophocles and Euripides, are the only works of Classical Greek literature to have survived. He is often described as the father of tragedy: critics and scholars' knowledge of the genre begins with his work, and understanding of earlier tragedies is largely based on inferences from his surviving plays. According to Aristotle, he expanded the number of characters in theater to allow conflict among them, whereas characters previously had interacted only...
NationalityGreek
ProfessionPoet
fortune mortals fortunate
To be fortunate is God, and more than God to mortals.
eye knowing bed
For in pure maidens, knowing not the marriage-bed, the glance of the eyes sinks from shame.
clouds shadow passing
The seed of mortals broods o'er passing things, and hath nought surer than the smoke-cloud's shadow.
death hate men
Unjustly men hate death, which is the greatest defence against their many ills.
science numbers excellent
Number, the most excellent of all inventions.
men envy prosperity
In few men is it part of nature to respect a friend's prosperity without begrudging him.
fraud
From a just fraud God turneth not away.
ocean wave
Ye waves That o'er th' interminable ocean wreathe Your crisped smiles.
people great-power reports
Report uttered by the people is everywhere of great power.
evil sin young
The act of evil breeds others to follow, young sins in its own likeness.
stronger age youth
Old age hath stronger sense of right than youth.
wise men tears
Let there be wealth without tears; enough for the wise man who will ask no further.
doe sickness tyranny
This is a sickness rooted and inherent in the nature of a tyranny: that he that holds it does not trust his friends.
But let the good prevail.