Hesiod
Hesiod
Hesiodwas a Greek poet generally thought by scholars to have been active between 750 and 650 BC, around the same time as Homer. He is generally regarded as the first written poet in the Western tradition to regard himself as an individual persona with an active role to play in his subject. Ancient authors credited Hesiod and Homer with establishing Greek religious customs. Modern scholars refer to him as a major source on Greek mythology, farming techniques, early economic thought,...
NationalityGreek
ProfessionPoet
Hesiod quotes about
best calls heed men worthless
The best is he who calls men to the best. And those who heed the call are also blessed. But worthless who call not, heed not, but rest.
bad calamity good great greek-poet
A bad neighbor is as great a calamity as a good one is a great advantage.
craftsman grudge poet potter
Potter is jealous of potter, and craftsman of craftsman; and the poor have a grudge against the poor, and the poet against the poet.
fashions greek-poet mischief
He fashions evil for himself who does evil to another, and an evil plan does mischief to the planner.
close excellence front gods greek-poet immortal lies road steep
Badness you can get easily, in quantity; the road is smooth, and it lies close by, But in front of excellence the immortal gods have put sweat, and long and steep is the way to it.
If you should put even a little on a little and should do this often, soon this would become big.
greek-poet shall
If you add a little to a little, and then do it again, soon that little shall be much.
brother sleep night
Night, having Sleep, the brother of Death.
toil shame source
Toil is no source of shame; idleness is shame.
disgrace idleness
Work is no disgrace: it is idleness which is a disgrace.
successful artist envy
The artist envies what the arties gains, The bard the rival bard's successful strains.
voice gossip people
No gossip ever dies away entirely, if many people voice it: it, too, is a kind of divinity.