I would rather be tied to the soil as another man's serf, even a poor man's, who hadn't much to live on himself, than be King of all these the dead and destroyed.

βουλοίμην κ᾽ ἐπάρουρος ἐὼν θητευέμεν ἄλλῳ,
ἀνδρὶ παρ᾽ ἀκλήρῳ, ᾧ μὴ βίοτος πολὺς εἴη,
ἢ πᾶσιν νεκύεσσι καταφθιμένοισιν ἀνάσσειν.

Homer

The Odyssey

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More information about this quote

Topic

Life is precious Life and death

Speaker

Odysseus

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. 11, l. 489-491.

Current Citation

Homer. The Odyssey, edited by Bernard Knox, translated by Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics, 2006, bk. 11, l. 489-491.

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A quote by Homer about life is precious: “I would rather be tied to the soil as another man's serf, even a poor…”
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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 Life and death

Every man dies, not every man really lives.

William Wallace

Braveheart

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More information about this quote
Topic
Living life to the fullest Life and death
Speaker
William Wallace
Actor
Mel Gibson
Source
Braveheart
Medium
Film
Genre
Epic (film) Historical drama (film) Epic Historical drama
Language
English
Time
1995 1990s 20th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Braveheart. Directed by Mel Gibson, Icon Productions/The Ladd Company, 1995.

Another quote from the 8th century BC

Rage-Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus's son Achilles, murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses.

Homer

The Iliad

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More information about this quote

Author

Homer
Source
The Iliad
Medium
Poem
Genre
Epic poem
Statement Type
Opening lines
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. 1, l. 1.

Current Citation

Homer. The Iliad, translated by Robert Fitzgerald. Oxford University Press, 2014, bk. 1, l. 1.

Another quote from Classical antiquity

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

Apostle Paul

1st Corinthians 13:4-8

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More information about this quote
Topic
Nature of love Love

Author

Apostle Paul
Source
1st Corinthians The Bible
Medium
Scripture
Genre
Religious literature
Language
Greek
Time
55 50s 1st century
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 3
Citation

The Holy Bible, New International Version. International Bible Society, 1978. (1st Corinthians 13:4-8).

Another quote from The Odyssey

All men have need of the Gods.

Homer

The Odyssey

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More information about this quote
Topic
God and man God Human nature

Author

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

Homer. Ὀδύσσεια [Odyssey]. c. 710 BC, bk. 3, l. 48.

Current Citation

Homer. The Odyssey, edited by Bernard Knox, translated by Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics, 2006, bk. 3, l. 48.