Hesiod: Quotes about God

Hesiod is Greek poet. Explore interesting quotes on god.

Hesiod: 122 quotes17 likes

“First of all the deathless gods who dwell on Olympus made a golden race of mortal men who lived in the time of Cronos when he was reigning in heaven. And they lived like gods without sorrow of heart, remote and free from toil and grief: miserable age rested not on them.”

Hesiod book Works and Days

Source: Works and Days (c. 700 BC), line 109.

“Work the work which the gods ordained for men, lest in bitter anguish of spirit you with your wife and children seek your livelihood amongst your neighbours, and they do not heed you.”

Hesiod book Works and Days

Source: Works and Days (c. 700 BC), line 397.

“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, and rough at first. But when you come to the top, then it is easy, even though it is hard.”

Hesiod book Works and Days

Source: Works and Days (c. 700 BC), line 287.

“The deathless gods are near among men and mark all those who oppress their fellows with crooked judgements, and reck not the anger of the gods.”

Hesiod book Works and Days

Source: Works and Days (c. 700 BC), line 249.

“Wealth should not be seized: god-given wealth is much better.”

Hesiod book Works and Days

Source: Works and Days (c. 700 BC), line 320.

“Love, who is most beautiful among the immortal gods, the melter of limbs, overwhelms in their hearts the intelligence and wise counsel of all gods and all men.”

Source: The Theogony (c. 700 BC), line 120.

“The gods have placed sweat as the price of all things.”

Perhaps a mistranslation of line 289 of Works and Days, actually:
: But in front of excellence the immortal gods have put sweat
Misattributed

“There the sons of obscure Night hold their habitation, Sleep and Death, dread gods.”

Source: The Theogony (c. 700 BC), line 758.