“The best of all things for earthly men is not to be born and not to see the beams of the bright sun; but if born, then as quickly as possible to pass the gates of Hades, and to lie deep buried.”

— Theognis of Megara

Source: Elegies, Lines 425-428.

Original

Πάντων μὲν μὴ φῦναι ἐπιχθονίοισιν ἄριστον μηδ' ἐσιδεῖν αὐγὰς ὀξέος ἠελίου, φύντα δ' ὅπως ὤκιστα πύλας Ἀίδαο περῆσαι καὶ κεῖσθαι πολλὴν γῆν ἐπαμησάμενον.

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Theognis of Megara 16

Greek lyric poet active in approximately the sixth century … -570–-485 BC

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