“Grievous for mortals is the stain of kindred blood. For the murderers are dogged by woes harmonious with their deeds, sent by the gods upon their houses.”

Address to the Citizens of Concord, New Hampshire (4 July 1863).

VI. 180–185 (tr. Robert Fitzgerald); Odysseus to Nausicaa.
Odyssey (c. 725 BC)

Jean-Christophe (1904 - 1912), Journey's End: The Burning Bush (1911)
Context: "Thou art not alone, and thou dost not belong to thyself. Thou art one of My voices, thou art one of My arms. Speak and strike for Me. But if the arm be broken, or the voice be weary, then still I hold My ground: I fight with other voices, other arms than thine. Though thou art conquered, yet art thou of the army which is never vanquished. Remember that and thou wilt fight even unto death."
"Lord, I have suffered much!"
"Thinkest thou that I do not suffer also? For ages death has hunted Me and nothingness has lain in wait for Me. It is only by victory in the fight that I can make My way. The river of life is red with My blood."
"Fighting, always fighting?"
"We must always fight. God is a fighter, even He Himself. God is a conqueror. He is a devouring lion. Nothingness hems Him in and He hurls it down. And the rhythm of the fight is the supreme harmony. Such harmony is not for thy mortal ears. It is enough for thee to know that it exists. Do thy duty in peace and leave the rest to the Gods."

Source: Night-Thoughts (1742–1745), Night VIII, Line 757.

Source: The Song of Achilles

Book I, opening lines
Homer His Iliads Translated (1660)

Source: The Dresden Files, Proven Guilty (2006), Chapter 1, Opening line

Book I, 10; Church-Brodribb translation
Annals (117)

Said after Hilton threatens to 'murder the hog', as quoted in "Hilton threatens to 'murder the hog'" http://politics.guardian.co.uk/conservatives/story/0,,1962285,00.html, The Guardian, October 22, 2011