Men flourish only for a moment.

ἄνθρωποι δὲ μινυνθάδιοι τελέθουσιν.

Homer

The Odyssey

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More information about this quote

Topic

Ephemeral nature of life

Author

Homer

Source

The Odyssey

Medium

Poem

Genre

Epic poem

Language

Greek

Time

700 BC 700s BC 8th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Occupation

Poet

From

Greece Europe Ancient Greece

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Homer. Ὀδύσσεια [Odyssey]. c. 710 BC, bk. 19, l. 328.

Current Citation

Homer. The Odyssey, edited by Bernard Knox, translated by Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics, 2006, bk. 19, l. 328.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Homer about ephemeral nature of life: “Men flourish only for a moment.”
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A quote by Homer about ephemeral nature of life: “Men flourish only for a moment.”
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A quote by Homer about ephemeral nature of life: “Men flourish only for a moment.”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote by Homer

Zeus does not bring all men's plans to fulfillment.

Achilles

Quoted in The Iliad, by Homer

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More information about this quote
Topic
God and man Fate
Speaker
Achilles

Author

Homer
Source
The Iliad
Medium
Poem
Genre
Epic poem
Language
Greek
Time
700 BC 700s BC 8th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Homer. Ἰλιάς [The Iliad], edited by Demetrius Chalcondyles. Florence: Bernardus Nerlius and Demetrius Damilas, 1489, bk. 18, l. 328.

Current Citation

Homer. The Iliad, translated by Robert Fitzgerald. Oxford University Press, 2014, bk. 18, l. 328.

Another quote about Ephemeral nature of life

As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more.

Psalm 103:15-16

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More information about this quote
Topic
Ephemeral nature of life Shortness of life The human condition
Source
Psalms The Bible
Medium
Scripture
Genre
Religious literature
Statement Type
Metaphor, analogy and simile
Language
Hebrew
Time
450 BC 450s BC 5th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 3
Citation

The Holy Bible, New King James Version. Thomas Nelson, 1982. (Psalm 103:15-16).

Another quote from the 8th century BC

Between us and excellence, the gods have placed the sweat of our brows.

Hesiod

Works and Days

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More information about this quote
Topic
Hard work Excellence Character Virtue The human condition

Author

Hesiod
Source
Works and Days
Medium
Poem
Genre
Didactic poem
Language
Greek
Time
700 BC 700s BC 8th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 1
Original Citation

Hesiod. Ἔργα καὶ Ἡμέραι [Works and Days]. c. 700 BC, l. 289.

Current Citation

Hesiod. "Works and Days." Theogony and Works and Days, translated by M. L. West. Oxford University Press, 2009, l. 289.

Another quote from Classical antiquity

Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

Matthew 26:14-15

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More information about this quote
Topic
Betrayal
Speaker
Judas
Source
Gospel of Matthew The Bible
Medium
Scripture
Genre
Religious literature
Statement Type
Question
Language
Greek
Time
60 60s 1st century
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 3
Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Matthew 26:14-15).

Another quote originally in Greek

Then one day there really was a wolf but when the boy shouted, they didn't believe him.

Aesop

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

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More information about this quote
Topic
False alarms Alarmism

Author

Aesop
Source
The Boy Who Cried Wolf Aesop's Fables
Medium
Fable and fairytale
Genre
Children's literature
Language
Greek
Time
6th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 0
Original Citation

Aesop. "The Boy Who Cried Wolf." Aesop's Fables. c. 600.

Current Citation

Aesop. "The Boy Who Cried Wolf." Aesop's Fables. Oxford University Press, 2008.