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
destiny men shadow
Alas, poor men, their destiny. When all goes well a shadow will overthrow it. If it be unkind one stroke of a wet sponge wipes all the picture out.
men shadow wipe
Alas for the affairs of men! When they are fortunate you might compare them to a shadow; and if they are unfortunate, a wet sponge with one dash wipes the picture away.
shadow kind mortals
For mortal kind taketh thought only for the day, and hath no more surety than the shadow of smoke.
clouds shadow passing
The seed of mortals broods o'er passing things, and hath nought surer than the smoke-cloud's shadow.
happiness prayer mind
But from the good health of the mind comes that which is dear to all and the object of prayer-happiness.
wise believe pride
Search well and be wise, nor believe that self-willed pride will ever be better than good counsel.
evil far ignorant rather wise
I would far rather be ignorant than wise in the foreboding of evil.
greek-poet mother obedience parent success
Obedience is the mother of success, and success the parent of salvation.
advice rebuke
to give advice and to rebuke the sufferer.
gods greek-poet rail upright
For this is the mark of a wise and upright man, not to rail against the gods in misfortune.
pain wall suffering
Oh, it is easy for the one who stands outside the prison-wall of pain to exhort and teach the one who suffers.
pain ends extremity
Take courage; pain's extremity soon ends.
pain memories rain
In visions of the night, like dropping rain, Descend the many memories of pain.
blood law cry
This is the law: blood spilt upon the ground cries out for more.