It is equally wrong to speed a guest who does not want to go, and to keep one back who is eager. You ought to make welcome the present guest, and send forth the one who wishes to go.

ἶσόν τοι κακόν ἐσθ᾽, ὅς τ᾽ οὐκ ἐθέλοντα νέεσθαι
ξεῖνον ἐποτρύνει καὶ ὃς ἐσσύμενον κατερύκει.
χρὴ ξεῖνον παρεόντα φιλεῖν, ἐθέλοντα δὲ πέμπειν.

Homer

The Odyssey

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More information about this quote

Topic

Hospitality Guests and visitors

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. 15, l. 72-74.

Current Citation

Homer. The Odyssey, edited by Bernard Knox, translated by Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics, 2006, bk. 15, l. 72-74.

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A quote by Homer about hospitality: “It is equally wrong to speed a guest who does not want to go, and to keep…”
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A quote by Homer about hospitality: “It is equally wrong to speed a guest who does not want to go, and to keep…”
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A quote by Homer about hospitality: “It is equally wrong to speed a guest who does not want to go, and to keep…”
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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

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 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

Time, the devourer of all things.

Ovid

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Topic
Effects of time Relentlessness of time Time

Author

Ovid
Source
Metamorphoses
Medium
Poem
Statement Type
Metaphor, analogy and simile
Language
Latin
Time
8 0s 1st century
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Ovid. Metamorphōsēs [Metamorphoses]. c. 8 CE, bk. 15, l. 234.

Current Citation

Ovid. Metamorphoses, translated by David Raeburn. Penguin Classics, 2004, bk. 15, l. 234.

Another quote originally in Greek

For many are called, but few are chosen.

Jesus

Matthew 22:14

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

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Matthew 22:14).