The best of all things for earthly men is not to be born and not to see the beams of the bright sun; but if born, then as quickly as possible to pass the gates of Hades, and to lie deep buried.

πάντων μὲν μὴ φῦναι ἐπιχθονίοισιν ἄριστον, μηδ᾽ ἐσιδεῖν αὐγὰς ὀξέος ἠελίου: φύντα δ᾽ ὅπως ὤκιστα πύλας Ἀΐδαο περῆσαι, καὶ κεῖσθαι πολλὴν γῆν ἐπαμησάμενον.

Theognis of Megara

Elegies

More information about this quote

Topic

Being born The human condition

Author

Theognis of Megara

Source

Elegies

Medium

Poem

Language

Greek

Time

545 BC 540s BC 6th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Occupation

Poet

From

Greece Europe Ancient Greece

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Theognis. Elegies. c. 541 BC.

Current Citation

Theognis. "Elegies." Hesiod and Theognis: Theogony, Works and Days, and Elegies, translated by Dorothea Wender. Penguin Classics, 1976.

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Related Quotes

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Another quote about The human condition

And so from hour to hour we ripe and ripe,
And then from hour to hour we rot and rot,
And thereby hangs a tale.

William Shakespeare

As You Like It

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More information about this quote
Topic
Aging Mortality The human condition
Speaker
Jaques

Author

William Shakespeare
Source
As You Like It
Medium
Play
Genre
Comedy (play)
Language
English
Time
1616 1610s 17th century
Era
European Renaissance
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "As You Like It." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 2, sc. 7.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "As You Like It." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 2, sc. 7.

Another quote from the 6th century BC

Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

Job

Job 1:21

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More information about this quote
Topic
God is in control God The human condition
Speaker
Job
Source
Book of Job The Bible
Medium
Scripture
Genre
Religious literature
Language
Hebrew
Time
500 BC 500s BC 6th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 3
Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Job 1:21).

Another quote from Classical antiquity

Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven.

Genesis 19:24

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More information about this quote
Topic
Sodom and Gomorrah Divine punishment God's wrath
Source
Genesis The Bible
Medium
Scripture
Genre
Religious literature
Language
Hebrew
Time
1405 BC 1400s BC 15th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 3
Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Genesis 19:24).

Another quote originally in Greek

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Apostle Paul

Philippians 4:7

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More information about this quote
Topic
Inner peace

Author

Apostle Paul
Source
Philippians The Bible
Medium
Scripture
Genre
Religious literature
Language
Greek
Time
62 60s 1st century
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 3
Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Philippians 4:7).