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Menander Quotes
342 BC–290 BC Greece
Menander (Greek: Μένανδρος, Ménandros; c. 342/341 – c. 290 BC) was a Greek playwright and the best-known representative of Athenian New Comedy. He was the author of more than a hundred comedies, of which a single one, Dyskolos, survives virtually complete.
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76 quotes
This is living, not to live unto oneself alone.
It is difficult to discover the relatives of a poor man, for no one likes to acknowledge his relationship with one who is in want, lest he should be asked for assistance.
Whoever first discovered the means to support the poor, increased the number of the miserable; for it would have been more simple for the man who could not live happily to die.
Chance is a kind of god, for it preserves many things which we do not observe.
In life of mortals there is not, nay, nor could there come to pass, a single thing beyond our credence. Time and men's ways embroider many an unexpected marvel on life's web.
Chaereas: Rest assured,
Dyskolos (-316)
We live, not as we wish to, but as we can.
For habits are never to be neglected.
The matter's voted and decreed. Be cast the dice!
Riches cover a multitude of woes.
A man that runs away may fight again.
Nothing is more useful than silence.
I hate a bad man saying what is good.
You knew not how to live in clover.
All animals are more happy, and have more understanding, than man. Look, for instance, on yonder ass; all allow him to be miserable: his evils, however, are not brought on him by himself and his own fault; he feels only those which Nature has inflicted. We, on the contrary, besides our necessary ills, draw upon ourselves a multitude of others.
If we were all eager to resist the man who inflicted injury, and were ready to bring aid, regarding any injury done as done to ourselves, and if we were prepared to assist each other, there would be less mischief done by the bad; for when these men found that they were watched and properly punished, they would either be few in number, or would disappear altogether.
τὰ σῦκα σῦκα, τὴν σκάφην σκάφην.
It is as easy to draw back a stone thrown with force from the hand, as to recall a word once spoken.
Misattributed
Whenever you do what is holy, be of good cheer, knowing that God Himself takes part with rightful courage.
Misattributed
Ill-timed laughter in men is an awful curse.
Misattributed
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