The most hateful torment for men is to have knowledge of everything but power over nothing.

ἐχθίστη δὲ ὀδύνη ἐστὶ τῶν ἐν ἀνθρώποισι αὕτη, πολλὰ φρονέοντα μηδενὸς κρατέειν.

Herodotus

Histories

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More information about this quote

Topic

Knowledge Powerlessness Power

Author

Herodotus

Source

Histories

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

430 BC 430s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Occupation

Historian Writer

From

Turkey Europe Ancient Greece

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Herodotus. Ἱστορίαι [Histories]. c. 430 BC, bk. 9. sect. 16.

Current Citation

Herodotus. The Histories, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2008, bk. 9, sect. 16.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Herodotus about knowledge: “The most hateful torment for men is to have knowledge of everything but power…”
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A quote by Herodotus about knowledge: “The most hateful torment for men is to have knowledge of everything but power…”
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A quote by Herodotus about knowledge: “The most hateful torment for men is to have knowledge of everything but power…”
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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 about Knowledge

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

William Shakespeare

Hamlet

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More information about this quote
Topic
Limits of knowledge Knowledge
Speaker
Hamlet

Author

William Shakespeare
Source
Hamlet
Medium
Play
Genre
Tragedy (play)
Language
English
Time
1616 1610s 17th century
Era
European Renaissance
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Hamlet." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 1, sc. 5.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Hamlet." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 1, sc. 5.

Another quote from the 5th century BC

As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.

Psalm 125:2

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More information about this quote
Topic
God's protection Jerusalem
Source
Psalms The Bible
Medium
Scripture
Genre
Religious literature
Language
Hebrew
Time
450 BC 450s BC 5th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 3
Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Psalm 125:2).

Another quote from Classical antiquity

These eyes of mine would look on only thee
In that last hour when light shall fail.
Embrace me, dear, in death! Let thy hand be
In my cold fingers pale!

Tibullus

More information about this quote
Topic
Lifelong love Love

Author

Tibullus
Source
Elegies (Tibullus)
Medium
Poem
Language
Latin
Time
26 BC 20s BC 1st century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Tibullus. The Elegies of Tibullus. c. 30 BC, bk. 1, no. 1.

Current Citation

Tibullus. Elegies: With Paralell Latin Texts, translated by A. M. Juster. Oxford University Press, 2012, bk. 1, no. 1.

Another quote originally in Greek

All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away.

1st Peter 1:24

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More information about this quote
Topic
Sic transit gloria mundi Ephemeral nature of life Grass Life
Source
1st Peter The Bible
Medium
Scripture
Genre
Religious literature
Statement Type
Metaphor, analogy and simile
Language
Greek
Time
65 60s 1st century
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 3
Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (1st Peter 1:24).