
“Even the Gods cannot strive against necessity.”
As quoted by Plato, Protagoras, 345d, and by Diogenes Laërtius, i. 77.
Quoted by Plato in the dialogue Protagoras, 345d http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0177%3Atext%3DProt.%3Asection%3D345d (Simonides Fr. 37.1.27 ff.).
Variant translations:
The gods do not fight against necessity.
Not even the gods war against necessity.
I praise and love all men who do no sin willingly; but with necessity even the gods do not contend.
"Anankei d' oude theoi makhontai."
“Even the Gods cannot strive against necessity.”
As quoted by Plato, Protagoras, 345d, and by Diogenes Laërtius, i. 77.
“One of his sayings was, "Even the gods cannot strive against necessity."”
Pittacus, 4.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 1: The Seven Sages
“The fight was done. Even gods tire
Of fighting…”
Young Adventure (1918), The Quality of Courage
Context: p>Was it not better so to lie?
The fight was done. Even gods tire
Of fighting... My way was the wrong.
Now I should drift and drift along
To endless quiet, golden peace...
And let the tortured body cease.And then a light winked like an eye.
... And very many miles away
A girl stood at a warm, lit door,
Holding a lamp. Ray upon ray
It cloaked the snow with perfect light.
And where she was there was no night
Nor could be, ever. God is sure,
And in his hands are things secure.</p
“Even the gods fight boredom in vain.”
Source: Lady of Mazes (2005), Chapter 22 (p. 252).
Statement in al-Quds al-Arabi, as quoted in "Bin Laden: I Didn't Do It" CBS News (12 September 2001); also at Positive Atheism's "Big List of Scary Quotes" http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/quotes/scar_l.htm
2000s, 2001
“We must always fight. God is a fighter, even He Himself.”
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."
“Against boredom even gods struggle in vain.”
Gegen die Langeweile kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens.
Sec. 48
The Antichrist (1888)
Source: The Anti-Christ
Ch XIII : Now or Never - Alam Halfa, p. 285.
The Rommel Papers (1953)