Anacreon Quotes (12 quotes) | Quotes of famous people

Anacreon: 12 quotes3 likes

Famous Anacreon Quotes

“Ah, cruel 'tis to love,
And cruel not to love,
But cruelest of all
To love and love in vain.”

Odes, XXIX. (XXVII.), 1.

“The black earth drinks, in turn
The trees drink up the earth.
The sea the torrents drinks, the sun the sea,
And the moon drinks the sun.
Why, comrades, do ye flout me,
If I, too, wish to drink?”

Anacreon

Variant: Fruitful earth drinks up the rain, Trees from earth drink that again; The sea too drinks the air, the sun Drinks the sea, and him the moon. Is it reason, then, do ye think, That I should thirst when all else drink?
Source: Odes, 21.

“And last of all comes death.”

Anacreon

Odes, L. (XL VIII.), 28.

“Nature gave horns to the bull,
Hoofs gave she to the horse.
To the lion cavernous jaws,
And swiftness to the hare.
The fish taught she to swim,
The bird to cleave the air;
To man she reason gave;
Not yet was woman dowered.
What, then, to woman gave she?
The priceless gift of beauty.
Stronger than any buckler,
Than any spear more piercing.
Who hath the gift of beauty.
Nor fire nor steel shall harm her.”

Anacreon

Odes, XXIV.
Variant: The bull by nature hath his horns, The horse his hoofs, to daunt their foes; The light-foot hare the hunter scorns; The lion's teeth his strength disclose.The fish, by swimming, 'scapes the weel; The bird, by flight, the fowler's net; With wisdom man is arm'd as steel; Poor women none of these can get. What have they then?—fair Beauty's grace, A two-edged sword, a trusty shield; No force resists a lovely face, Both fire and sword to Beauty yield.

“Cursed be he above all others
Who's enslaved by love of money.
Money takes the place of brothers,
Money takes the place of parents.
Money brings us war and slaughter.”

Anacreon

Odes, XXIX. (XXVIL, b), 8.

“I fled the headless darts of slanderous tongue.”

Anacreon

Odes, XLII. (XL.), 11.