Classical Quotations
@classicalquotes.bsky.social
Secondary school classics teacher in the UK. This is the place for daily (we'll see how long that lasts!) quotations from classical literature. Sometimes just the quotations, sometimes accompanied by my thoughts on them
tum sterilis exurere Sirius agros
Virgil, Aeneid 3.141
(The Sirius [the Dog Star] scorched the infertile fields)
Seemed appropriate as here in the UK we experience our hottest day of the year so far
Virgil, Aeneid 3.141
(The Sirius [the Dog Star] scorched the infertile fields)
Seemed appropriate as here in the UK we experience our hottest day of the year so far
April 30, 2025 at 2:51 PM
tum sterilis exurere Sirius agros
Virgil, Aeneid 3.141
(The Sirius [the Dog Star] scorched the infertile fields)
Seemed appropriate as here in the UK we experience our hottest day of the year so far
Virgil, Aeneid 3.141
(The Sirius [the Dog Star] scorched the infertile fields)
Seemed appropriate as here in the UK we experience our hottest day of the year so far
φεῦ, μέγας τις ἦλθε δαίμων, ὥστε μὴ φρονεῖν καλῶς.
Aeschylus, Persians 725
(Alas, some great power came upon him, so that he didn't think clearly)
Aeschylus, Persians 725
(Alas, some great power came upon him, so that he didn't think clearly)
March 5, 2025 at 8:18 PM
φεῦ, μέγας τις ἦλθε δαίμων, ὥστε μὴ φρονεῖν καλῶς.
Aeschylus, Persians 725
(Alas, some great power came upon him, so that he didn't think clearly)
Aeschylus, Persians 725
(Alas, some great power came upon him, so that he didn't think clearly)
brevi spatio silet
Ovid, Metamorphoses 7.307
(She's silent for a short time)
Ovid, Metamorphoses 7.307
(She's silent for a short time)
February 24, 2025 at 7:48 PM
brevi spatio silet
Ovid, Metamorphoses 7.307
(She's silent for a short time)
Ovid, Metamorphoses 7.307
(She's silent for a short time)
ὅντε διὰ βροτοὶ ἄνδρες ὁμῶς ἄφατοί τε φατοί τε,
ῥητοί τ᾽ ἄρρητοί τε Διὸς μεγάλοιο ἕκητι.
Hesiod, Works and Days 3-4
(Through great Zeus' will, mortal men are both spoken about and not spoken about alike, both famous and not famous)
ῥητοί τ᾽ ἄρρητοί τε Διὸς μεγάλοιο ἕκητι.
Hesiod, Works and Days 3-4
(Through great Zeus' will, mortal men are both spoken about and not spoken about alike, both famous and not famous)
February 10, 2025 at 3:47 PM
ὅντε διὰ βροτοὶ ἄνδρες ὁμῶς ἄφατοί τε φατοί τε,
ῥητοί τ᾽ ἄρρητοί τε Διὸς μεγάλοιο ἕκητι.
Hesiod, Works and Days 3-4
(Through great Zeus' will, mortal men are both spoken about and not spoken about alike, both famous and not famous)
ῥητοί τ᾽ ἄρρητοί τε Διὸς μεγάλοιο ἕκητι.
Hesiod, Works and Days 3-4
(Through great Zeus' will, mortal men are both spoken about and not spoken about alike, both famous and not famous)
solitum quidem Britannis feminarum ductu bellare testabatur
Tacitus, Annals 14.35
(she [Boudica] was testifying that it was indeed customary for Britons to wage war under female leadership)
Tacitus, Annals 14.35
(she [Boudica] was testifying that it was indeed customary for Britons to wage war under female leadership)
February 8, 2025 at 7:41 PM
solitum quidem Britannis feminarum ductu bellare testabatur
Tacitus, Annals 14.35
(she [Boudica] was testifying that it was indeed customary for Britons to wage war under female leadership)
Tacitus, Annals 14.35
(she [Boudica] was testifying that it was indeed customary for Britons to wage war under female leadership)
tantae molis erat Romanam condere gentem!
Virgil, Aeneid 1.33
(It was such a great task to establish the Roman race!)
Virgil, Aeneid 1.33
(It was such a great task to establish the Roman race!)
February 7, 2025 at 5:52 PM
tantae molis erat Romanam condere gentem!
Virgil, Aeneid 1.33
(It was such a great task to establish the Roman race!)
Virgil, Aeneid 1.33
(It was such a great task to establish the Roman race!)
τάξιν ἔχοντες τὴν κρατίστην διά τε τὴν ἡμετέραν ἀρετὴν καὶ διὰ τὴν ὑμετέραν προθυμίαν
Xenophon, Hellenica 1.1.28
(holding the best position because of our excellence and because of your zeal)
Xenophon, Hellenica 1.1.28
(holding the best position because of our excellence and because of your zeal)
February 6, 2025 at 7:20 PM
τάξιν ἔχοντες τὴν κρατίστην διά τε τὴν ἡμετέραν ἀρετὴν καὶ διὰ τὴν ὑμετέραν προθυμίαν
Xenophon, Hellenica 1.1.28
(holding the best position because of our excellence and because of your zeal)
Xenophon, Hellenica 1.1.28
(holding the best position because of our excellence and because of your zeal)
natus est ... sordidis aedibus, cubiculo uero perparuo et obscuro, nam manet adhuc et ostenditur
Suetonius, Lives of the 12 Caesars - Titus 1
(He was born ... in a dirty house, in a very small and dark room, which still exists and is shown to people)
Suetonius, Lives of the 12 Caesars - Titus 1
(He was born ... in a dirty house, in a very small and dark room, which still exists and is shown to people)
February 5, 2025 at 6:12 PM
natus est ... sordidis aedibus, cubiculo uero perparuo et obscuro, nam manet adhuc et ostenditur
Suetonius, Lives of the 12 Caesars - Titus 1
(He was born ... in a dirty house, in a very small and dark room, which still exists and is shown to people)
Suetonius, Lives of the 12 Caesars - Titus 1
(He was born ... in a dirty house, in a very small and dark room, which still exists and is shown to people)
καὶ παλαίων δ᾽ ἐν τῷ βαλανείῳ πυκνὰ ἕδραν στρέφειν, ὅπως πεπαιδεῦσθαι δοκῇ
Theophrastus, Characters - The Late Learner (27)
(And sitting in the bath he twists and turns like a wrestler, so that he seems to have been educated)
Theophrastus, Characters - The Late Learner (27)
(And sitting in the bath he twists and turns like a wrestler, so that he seems to have been educated)
February 4, 2025 at 6:51 PM
καὶ παλαίων δ᾽ ἐν τῷ βαλανείῳ πυκνὰ ἕδραν στρέφειν, ὅπως πεπαιδεῦσθαι δοκῇ
Theophrastus, Characters - The Late Learner (27)
(And sitting in the bath he twists and turns like a wrestler, so that he seems to have been educated)
Theophrastus, Characters - The Late Learner (27)
(And sitting in the bath he twists and turns like a wrestler, so that he seems to have been educated)
uni ex illo contaminatorum grege (nomen Pythagorae fuit) in modum sollemnium coniugiorum denupsisset. inditum imperatori flammeum
Tacitus, Annals 15.37
Tacitus, Annals 15.37
February 3, 2025 at 5:58 PM
uni ex illo contaminatorum grege (nomen Pythagorae fuit) in modum sollemnium coniugiorum denupsisset. inditum imperatori flammeum
Tacitus, Annals 15.37
Tacitus, Annals 15.37
ὅτι καὶ τὸν Ἀχιλλέως ἄρα τάφον ἐστεφάνωσεν: Ἡφαιστίωνα δὲ λέγουσιν ὅτι τοῦ Πατρόκλου τὸν τάφον ἐστεφάνωσε
Arrian, Anabasis 1.12.1
([they say] that he [Alexander the Great] garlanded the tomb of Achilles and they say that Hephaestion garlanded the tomb of Patroclus)
Arrian, Anabasis 1.12.1
([they say] that he [Alexander the Great] garlanded the tomb of Achilles and they say that Hephaestion garlanded the tomb of Patroclus)
February 2, 2025 at 9:07 AM
ὅτι καὶ τὸν Ἀχιλλέως ἄρα τάφον ἐστεφάνωσεν: Ἡφαιστίωνα δὲ λέγουσιν ὅτι τοῦ Πατρόκλου τὸν τάφον ἐστεφάνωσε
Arrian, Anabasis 1.12.1
([they say] that he [Alexander the Great] garlanded the tomb of Achilles and they say that Hephaestion garlanded the tomb of Patroclus)
Arrian, Anabasis 1.12.1
([they say] that he [Alexander the Great] garlanded the tomb of Achilles and they say that Hephaestion garlanded the tomb of Patroclus)
is longe omnium amicorum carissimus erat regi
Curtius, Historiae Alexandri Magni 3.12.16
(He was by far the dearest of all the king's friends)
It's day 1 of LGBT+ History Month here in the UK, so here's a description of the relationship between Hephaestion & Alexander the Great #LBGTHistoryMonth
Curtius, Historiae Alexandri Magni 3.12.16
(He was by far the dearest of all the king's friends)
It's day 1 of LGBT+ History Month here in the UK, so here's a description of the relationship between Hephaestion & Alexander the Great #LBGTHistoryMonth
February 1, 2025 at 9:04 AM
is longe omnium amicorum carissimus erat regi
Curtius, Historiae Alexandri Magni 3.12.16
(He was by far the dearest of all the king's friends)
It's day 1 of LGBT+ History Month here in the UK, so here's a description of the relationship between Hephaestion & Alexander the Great #LBGTHistoryMonth
Curtius, Historiae Alexandri Magni 3.12.16
(He was by far the dearest of all the king's friends)
It's day 1 of LGBT+ History Month here in the UK, so here's a description of the relationship between Hephaestion & Alexander the Great #LBGTHistoryMonth
inter feras satius est aetatem degere quam in hac tanta immanitate versari
Cicero, Pro Sexto Roscio 52
(It is beter to spend one's life among wild beasts rather than stay in such great cruelty as this)
Cicero, Pro Sexto Roscio 52
(It is beter to spend one's life among wild beasts rather than stay in such great cruelty as this)
January 31, 2025 at 6:28 PM
inter feras satius est aetatem degere quam in hac tanta immanitate versari
Cicero, Pro Sexto Roscio 52
(It is beter to spend one's life among wild beasts rather than stay in such great cruelty as this)
Cicero, Pro Sexto Roscio 52
(It is beter to spend one's life among wild beasts rather than stay in such great cruelty as this)
παλαιγενέων κλέα φωτῶν / μνήσομαι
Apollonius of Rhodes, Argonautica 1.1-2
(I will recall the glories of men born long ago)
Apollonius of Rhodes, Argonautica 1.1-2
(I will recall the glories of men born long ago)
January 30, 2025 at 5:34 PM
παλαιγενέων κλέα φωτῶν / μνήσομαι
Apollonius of Rhodes, Argonautica 1.1-2
(I will recall the glories of men born long ago)
Apollonius of Rhodes, Argonautica 1.1-2
(I will recall the glories of men born long ago)
Οὐρανὸς πρῶτος τοῦ παντὸς ἐδυνάστευσε κόσμου
Apollodorus 1.1.1
(Ouranos first held power over the whole cosmos.)
Apollodorus 1.1.1
(Ouranos first held power over the whole cosmos.)
January 29, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Οὐρανὸς πρῶτος τοῦ παντὸς ἐδυνάστευσε κόσμου
Apollodorus 1.1.1
(Ouranos first held power over the whole cosmos.)
Apollodorus 1.1.1
(Ouranos first held power over the whole cosmos.)
invitus, regina, tuo de litore cessi
Virgil Aeneid 6.460
(Unwillingly, queen, did I leave your shore)
Aeneas' words to Dido in the Underworld
Virgil Aeneid 6.460
(Unwillingly, queen, did I leave your shore)
Aeneas' words to Dido in the Underworld
January 28, 2025 at 5:45 PM
invitus, regina, tuo de litore cessi
Virgil Aeneid 6.460
(Unwillingly, queen, did I leave your shore)
Aeneas' words to Dido in the Underworld
Virgil Aeneid 6.460
(Unwillingly, queen, did I leave your shore)
Aeneas' words to Dido in the Underworld
invita, o regina, tuo de vertice cessi
Catullus 66.39
(Unwillingly, O Queen, did I leave your head)
A lock of hair bemoans being cut from the head of Queen Berenice as an offering to the gods
Catullus 66.39
(Unwillingly, O Queen, did I leave your head)
A lock of hair bemoans being cut from the head of Queen Berenice as an offering to the gods
January 27, 2025 at 5:44 PM
invita, o regina, tuo de vertice cessi
Catullus 66.39
(Unwillingly, O Queen, did I leave your head)
A lock of hair bemoans being cut from the head of Queen Berenice as an offering to the gods
Catullus 66.39
(Unwillingly, O Queen, did I leave your head)
A lock of hair bemoans being cut from the head of Queen Berenice as an offering to the gods
ἕξομέν τι παραμυθεῖσθαι αὐτὸν καὶ πείθειν ἠρέμα, ἐπικρυπτόμενοι ὅτι οὐχ ὑγιαίνει;
Plato, Republic 5.476e
(Are we able to soften him in some way and gently persuade him, concealing the fact that he is not of sound mind?)
Plato, Republic 5.476e
(Are we able to soften him in some way and gently persuade him, concealing the fact that he is not of sound mind?)
January 26, 2025 at 11:27 AM
ἕξομέν τι παραμυθεῖσθαι αὐτὸν καὶ πείθειν ἠρέμα, ἐπικρυπτόμενοι ὅτι οὐχ ὑγιαίνει;
Plato, Republic 5.476e
(Are we able to soften him in some way and gently persuade him, concealing the fact that he is not of sound mind?)
Plato, Republic 5.476e
(Are we able to soften him in some way and gently persuade him, concealing the fact that he is not of sound mind?)
ἄρχειν τε εἵλοντο λυπρὴν οἰκέοντες μᾶλλον ἢ πεδιάδα σπείροντες ἄλλοισι δουλεύειν
Herodotus 9.122.4
(They chose to rule, living in a barren place, rather than sow seeds on the plain and be slaves to others)
Herodotus 9.122.4
(They chose to rule, living in a barren place, rather than sow seeds on the plain and be slaves to others)
January 25, 2025 at 11:28 AM
ἄρχειν τε εἵλοντο λυπρὴν οἰκέοντες μᾶλλον ἢ πεδιάδα σπείροντες ἄλλοισι δουλεύειν
Herodotus 9.122.4
(They chose to rule, living in a barren place, rather than sow seeds on the plain and be slaves to others)
Herodotus 9.122.4
(They chose to rule, living in a barren place, rather than sow seeds on the plain and be slaves to others)
ambo animis, ambo insignes praestantibus armis / hic pietate prior
Virgil, Aeneid 11.291-2
(Both men distinguished in spirit, both men distinguished with their outstanding weapons, but this man [Aeneas] the better in piety).
The envoys from Diomedes report his views on Hector & Aeneas
Virgil, Aeneid 11.291-2
(Both men distinguished in spirit, both men distinguished with their outstanding weapons, but this man [Aeneas] the better in piety).
The envoys from Diomedes report his views on Hector & Aeneas
January 24, 2025 at 3:37 PM
ambo animis, ambo insignes praestantibus armis / hic pietate prior
Virgil, Aeneid 11.291-2
(Both men distinguished in spirit, both men distinguished with their outstanding weapons, but this man [Aeneas] the better in piety).
The envoys from Diomedes report his views on Hector & Aeneas
Virgil, Aeneid 11.291-2
(Both men distinguished in spirit, both men distinguished with their outstanding weapons, but this man [Aeneas] the better in piety).
The envoys from Diomedes report his views on Hector & Aeneas
ξένος πανταχοῦ εἰμι
Xenophon, Memorabilia 2.1.13
(I am a stranger everywhere)
Xenophon, Memorabilia 2.1.13
(I am a stranger everywhere)
January 23, 2025 at 5:38 PM
ξένος πανταχοῦ εἰμι
Xenophon, Memorabilia 2.1.13
(I am a stranger everywhere)
Xenophon, Memorabilia 2.1.13
(I am a stranger everywhere)
non ego nobilium sedeo studiosus equorum
Ovid, Amores 3.2.1
(I am not sitting here because I'm keen for noble horses)
Ovid, Amores 3.2.1
(I am not sitting here because I'm keen for noble horses)
January 22, 2025 at 4:14 PM
non ego nobilium sedeo studiosus equorum
Ovid, Amores 3.2.1
(I am not sitting here because I'm keen for noble horses)
Ovid, Amores 3.2.1
(I am not sitting here because I'm keen for noble horses)
τὸ δ᾽ ἄχνυμαι, / φθόνον ἀμειβόμενον τὰ καλὰ ἔργα.
Pindar, Pythian Odes 7.18-19
(But I am saddened that fine acts are repaid with envy).
Pindar, Pythian Odes 7.18-19
(But I am saddened that fine acts are repaid with envy).
January 21, 2025 at 2:25 PM
τὸ δ᾽ ἄχνυμαι, / φθόνον ἀμειβόμενον τὰ καλὰ ἔργα.
Pindar, Pythian Odes 7.18-19
(But I am saddened that fine acts are repaid with envy).
Pindar, Pythian Odes 7.18-19
(But I am saddened that fine acts are repaid with envy).
o tempora, o mores!
Cicero, In Catilinam 1.2
(O the times! O the customs!)
Cicero bewails the current state of affairs which led to the Catilinarian Conspiracy of 63BC
Cicero, In Catilinam 1.2
(O the times! O the customs!)
Cicero bewails the current state of affairs which led to the Catilinarian Conspiracy of 63BC
January 20, 2025 at 6:37 PM
o tempora, o mores!
Cicero, In Catilinam 1.2
(O the times! O the customs!)
Cicero bewails the current state of affairs which led to the Catilinarian Conspiracy of 63BC
Cicero, In Catilinam 1.2
(O the times! O the customs!)
Cicero bewails the current state of affairs which led to the Catilinarian Conspiracy of 63BC
μηδένα νομίζετ᾽ εὐτυχεῖν, πρὶν ἂν θάνῃ.
Euripides, Trojan Women 510
(Consider no-one to be fortunate, until they die)
Euripides, Trojan Women 510
(Consider no-one to be fortunate, until they die)
January 19, 2025 at 8:09 AM
μηδένα νομίζετ᾽ εὐτυχεῖν, πρὶν ἂν θάνῃ.
Euripides, Trojan Women 510
(Consider no-one to be fortunate, until they die)
Euripides, Trojan Women 510
(Consider no-one to be fortunate, until they die)