Fictional attribution in the movie The Emperor's Club (2002), given by Kevin Kline (as William Hundert); also attributed to Diogenes, without sources; no published occurrences of this statement prior to the movie have been located in any of the Aristophanes Plays or Fragments.
Misattributed
Source: IMDb, "Memorable quotes for The Emperor's Club" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0283530/quotes, Internet Movie Database, www.imdb.com
Source: Two pages attributing it to Diogenes: http://www.prohibitionists.org/Background/Party_Platform/quickquotes/QQ-education.htm http://www.ryanbalton.com/funstuff/forb_seniorquotes.htm
Works
Lysistrata
AristophanésPlutus
AristophanésThe Acharnians
AristophanésThe Wasps
AristophanésThesmophoriazusae
AristophanésThe Frogs
AristophanésPeace
AristophanésFamous Aristophanés Quotes
“By words the mind is winged.”
Birds (414 BC)
Context: Informer: My friend, I am asking you for wings, not for words.
Pisthetaerus: It's just my words that gives you wings.
Informer: And how can you give a man wings with your words?
Pisthetaerus: They all start this way. [... ]
Informer: So that words give wings?
Pisthetaerus: Undoubtedly; words give wings to the mind and make a man soar to heaven. Thus I hope that my wise words will give you wings to fly to some less degrading trade.
(tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Birds+1436)
tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Kn.+191
Knights, line 191-193
Knights (424 BC)
tr. Hickie 1853, vol. 1, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Cl.+1041
Clouds (423 BC)
tr. Athen. 1912, vol. 1, p. 361 http://books.google.com/books?id=9vpxAAAAIAAJ&q=%22To+invoke+solely+the+weaker+arguments+and+yet+triumph+is+a+talent+worth+more+than+a+hundred+thousand+drachmae%22
Clouds, line 1041-1042
Clouds (423 BC)
Aristophanés Quotes about men
tr. Lindsay 1925, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Lys.+120
Lysistrata, line 120-121 & 124-127
Lysistrata (411 BC)
tr. in Bartlett 1968, p. 91 http://books.google.com/books?q=inauthor%3A%22John+Bartlett%22+date%3A1968-1968+%22Full+of+wiles%2C+full+of+guile%2C+at+all+times%2C+in+all+ways%2C+are+the+children+of+Men%22 or Archive.org http://www.archive.org/stream/familiarquotatio017007mbp/familiarquotatio017007mbp_djvu.txt
Birds, line 451-452
Compare the earlier-written but later-known: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked", Jeremiah, 17:9 KJV Bible http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+17:9&version=9.
Birds (414 BC)
tr. Lindsay 1925, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Lys.+1014
Lysistrata, line 1038-1039
Lysistrata (411 BC)
tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Pl.+535
Plutus, line 535-539 & 548 & 552-554 & 558-561 & 563-564 & 567-570 & 575-578
Plutus (388 BC)
tr. Lindsay 1925, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Lys.+649
Lysistrata, line 649-651
Lysistrata (411 BC)
tr. Lindsay 1925, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Lys.+1014
Lysistrata, line 1014-1017
Lysistrata (411 BC)
Aristophanés Quotes about age
tr. Athen. 1912, vol. 1, p. 359 http://books.google.com/books?id=9vpxAAAAIAAJ&q=%22Do+not+bandy+words+with+your+father%2C+nor+treat+him+as+a+dotard%2C+nor+reproach+the+old+man%2C+who+has+cherished+you%2C+with+his+age%22
Clouds, line 998-999
Clouds (423 BC)
“Times change. The vices of your age are stylish today.”
William Arrowsmith (tr.) after Aristophanes, in Clouds, line 914 (our emphasis, citing 909-914)
This apocryphal line is found quoted only from the Arrowsmith translation.
Misattributed
Context: [909] Philosophy: Why, you Precocious Pederast! You Palpable Pervert!
[910] Sophistry: Pelt me with roses!
[910] Philosophy: You Toadstool! O Cesspool!
[911] Sophistry: Wreath my hairs with lilies!
[911] Philosophy: Why, you Parricide!
[912] Sophistry: Shower me with gold! Look, don't you see I welcome your abuse?
[913] Philosophy: Welcome it, monster? In my day we would have cringed with shame.
[914] Sophistry: Whereas now we're flattered. Times change. The vices of your age are stylish today.
(heavily rewritten and embellished tr. Arrowsmith 1962, p. 70 http://books.google.com/books?id=UNlxAAAAIAAJ&q;=%22Times+change.+The+vices+of+your+age+are+stylish+today%22)
tr. Hickie 1853, vol. 1, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Cl.+998
Clouds (423 BC)
Aristophanés: Trending quotes
“Lamachus: Ah! the Generals! they are numerous, but not good for much!”
tr. Athen. 1912, vol. 1, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Ach.+1078
Acharnians, line 1078
Acharnians (425 BC)
“I pained folk but little and caused them much amusement; my conscience rebuked me for nothing.”
Peace, line 762-773 (our emphasis on 764)
Aristophanes was bald.
Peace (421 BC)
Context: Chorus [speaking for Aristophanes]: Yet I have not been seen frequenting the wrestling school intoxicated with success and trying to seduce young boys; but I took all my theatrical gear and returned straight home. I pained folk but little and caused them much amusement; my conscience rebuked me for nothing. Hence both grown men and youths should be on my side and I likewise invite the bald to give me their votes; for, if I triumph, everyone will say, both at table and at festivals, “Carry this to the bald man, give these cakes to the bald one, do not grudge the poet whose talent shines as bright as his own bare skull the share he deserves.”
(tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Peace+762)
“Epops: A man may learn wisdom even from a foe.”
tr. in Goldstein-Jackson 1983, p. 163 http://books.google.com/books?q=isbn%3A9780389203933+%22A+man+may+learn+wisdom+even+from+a+foe%22+Aristophanes
Birds, line 375-382 (our emphasis on 375 and 378-379 and 382)
Compare the later: "We can learn even from our enemies", Ovid, Metamorphoses, IV, 428.
Birds (414 BC)
Aristophanés Quotes
“The wise can often profit by the lessons of a foe,”
Birds (414 BC)
Context: Epops: The wise can often profit by the lessons of a foe, for caution is the mother of safety. It is just such a thing as one will not learn from a friend and which an enemy compels you to know. To begin with, it's the foe and not the friend that taught cities to build high walls, to equip long vessels of war; and it's this knowledge that protects our children, our slaves and our wealth.
Leader of the Chorus [leader]: Well then, I agree, let us first hear them, for that is best; one can even learn something in an enemy's school.
(tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Birds+375)
“Come, bring hither quick a flagon of wine, that I may soak my brain and get an ingenious idea.”
Knights, line 90-96 (our emphasis on 95-96)
Knights (424 BC)
Context: Demosthenes: Do you dare to accuse wine of clouding the reason? Quote me more marvellous effects than those of wine. Look! when a man drinks, he is rich, everything he touches succeeds, he gains lawsuits, is happy and helps his friends. Come, bring hither quick a flagon of wine, that I may soak my brain and get an ingenious idea.
(tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Kn.+90)
“Philokleon: Let each man exercise the art he knows.”
tr. Rogers 1909, p. 110 http://books.google.com/books?id=vptfAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Let+each+man+exercise+the+art+he+knows%22
Anonymous ancient proverb, quoted by Aristophanes in Wasps, line 1431
Also later found in Plato (Republic 4.423d, 4.433a-d) and Cicero (Tusc. I.18.41)
Misattributed
tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Kn.+864
ὅπερ γὰρ οἱ τὰς ἐγχέλεις θηρώμενοι πέπονθας.
ὅταν μὲν ἡ λίμνη καταστῇ, λαμβάνουσιν οὐδέν·
ἐὰν δ᾽ ἄνω τε καὶ κάτω τὸν βόρβορον κυκῶσιν,
αἱροῦσι· καὶ σὺ λαμβάνεις, ἢν τὴν πόλιν ταράττῃς.
Knights, line 864-867
Dialog aimed at the politician Cleon, symbolizing demagogues for the author.
Knights (424 BC)
Source: The Knights
“Æschylus: High thoughts must have high language.”
rewritten and embellished tr. Fitts 1955, p. 108 http://books.google.com/books?id=CdZxAAAAIAAJ&q=%22High+thoughts+must+have+high+language%22
Frogs (405 BC)
Source: Frogs and Other Plays
Birds (414 BC)
Context: Epops: You're mistaken: men of sense often learn from their enemies. Prudence is the best safeguard. This principle cannot be learned from a friend, but an enemy extorts it immediately. It is from their foes, not their friends, that cities learn the lesson of building high walls and ships of war. And this lesson saves their children, their homes, and their properties.
Chorus [leader]: It appears then that it will be better for us to hear what they have to say first; for one may learn something at times even from one's enemies.
(tr. Anon. 1812 rev. in Ramage 1864, p. 45 http://books.google.com/books?id=AoUCAAAAQAAJ&pg;=PA45)
tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Birds+941
Birds, line 941-947 (our emphasis on 947)
Birds (414 BC)
tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Eccl.+236
Ecclesiazusae, line 236-238
Ecclesiazusae (392 BC)
tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Kn.+1274
Knights, line 1274-1275
Knights (424 BC)
“Man is naturally deceitful ever, in every way! ”
(tr. Hickie 1853, vol. 1, p. 326 http://books.google.com/books?id=Cm4NAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA326)
Birds (414 BC)
Variant: Man naturally is deceitful, ever indeed, and always, in every one thing.
tr. Athen. 1912, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Ach.+500
Acharnians, line 500-501
Acharnians (425 BC)
“Hierocles: You will never make the crab walk straight.”
tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Peace+1083
Peace, line 1083
Peace (421 BC)
“Sosias: The love of wine is a good man's failing.”
tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Wasps+80
Wasps, line 80
Wasps (422 BC)
“Chorus: Under every stone lurks a politician.”
tr. in Bartlett 1968, p. 91 http://books.google.com/books?q=inauthor%3A%22John+Bartlett%22+date%3A1968-1968+%22Under+every+stone+lurks+a+politician%22 or Archive.org http://www.archive.org/stream/familiarquotatio017007mbp/familiarquotatio017007mbp_djvu.txt
Thesmophoriazusae, line 529-530
A play on the Greek proverb "Under every stone lurks a scorpion". In context, "orator" was a synonym for "politician".
Thesmophoriazusae (411 BC)
tr. Athen. 1912, vol. 1, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Ach.+751
Acharnians, line 751-759
Acharnians (425 BC)
“Agathon: One must not try to trick misfortune, but resign oneself to it with good grace.”
tr. Athen. 1912, vol. 2, p. 278 http://books.google.com/books?id=6fxxAAAAIAAJ&q=%22one+must+not+try+to+trick+misfortune,+but+resign+oneself+to+it+with+good+grace%22
tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Thes.+198
Thesmophoriazusae, line 198-199
Thesmophoriazusae (411 BC)
“Strepsiades: Whirl is King, having driven out Zeus.”
tr. in Lippmann 1929, p. 1 http://books.google.com/books?id=-E4WFG-G30sC&pg=PA1 and 4 http://books.google.com/books?id=-E4WFG-G30sC&pg=PA4
Clouds, line 828
Clouds (423 BC)
“Man is a truly cunning creature.”
(abridged tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Birds+451)
Birds (414 BC)
“Bdelycleon: It is so that you may know only those who nourish you”
tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Wasps+704
Wasps (422 BC)
“Phobokleon: Hunger knows no friend but its feeder.”
embellished tr. Parker 1962, p. 55 http://books.google.com/books?id=EdpxAAAAIAAJ&q=%22Hunger+knows+no+friend+but+its+feeder%22
Wasps, line 704
Wasps (422 BC)
“Chorus: [We] must look beneath every stone, lest it conceal some orator ready to sting us.”
tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Thes.+529
Thesmophoriazusae (411 BC)
“Blepsidemus: There is no honest man! not one, that can resist the attraction of gold!”
tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Pl.+362
Plutus, line 362-363
Plutus (388 BC)
tr. Hickie 1853, vol. 1, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Aristoph.+Cl.+366
Clouds, line 366-367 (our emphasis on 367)
The Greek-mythology equivalent of "There is no God."
Clouds (423 BC)
“Chremylus: [Wealth], the most excellent of all the gods.”
tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Pl.+230
Plutus, line 230
Plutus (388 BC)
“Strepsiades: ‘Tis the Whirlwind, that has driven out Zeus and is King now.”
tr. Athen. 1912, vol. 1, p. 350 http://books.google.com/books?id=9vpxAAAAIAAJ&q=%22Tis+the+Whirlwind%2C+that+has+driven+out+Jupiter+and+is+King+now%22
Clouds (423 BC)
“Strepsiades: Vortex reigns, having expelled Zeus.”
tr. Hickie 1853, vol. 1, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Cl.+828
Clouds (423 BC)
heavily rewritten tr. Frere 1839, p. 38 http://books.google.com/books?id=Bk8JAAAAQAAJ&q=%22Sickly%2C+calamitous+creatures+of+clay%22
Birds (414 BC)
tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Birds+685
Birds, line 685-687
Birds (414 BC)
tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Birds+812
Birds, line 812 & 817-819 (our emphasis on 819)
Birds (414 BC)
tr. Dillon 1995, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Frogs+1058
Frogs, line 1058-1059
Frogs (405 BC)
tr. Hickie 1853, vol. 1, p. 338 http://books.google.com/books?id=Cm4NAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA338
Birds (414 BC)
tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Aristoph.+Eccl.+590
Ecclesiazusae, line 590-591 & 597-598 & 651
Ecclesiazusae (392 BC)