Quotes from book
Works and Days
The Works and Days is a didactic poem of some 800 lines written by the ancient Greek poet Hesiod around 700 BC. At its center, the Works and Days is a farmer's almanac in which Hesiod instructs his brother Perses in the agricultural arts.
“It will not always be summer, build barns.”
Source: Works and Days (c. 700 BC), line 503.
“Neighbour vies with his neighbour as he hurries after wealth. This Strife is wholesome for men.”
Source: Works and Days (c. 700 BC), line 23.
“Hunger is altogether a meet comrade for the sluggard.”
Source: Works and Days (c. 700 BC), line 302.
“A bad neighbor is a misfortune, as much as a good one is a great blessing.”
Source: Works and Days (c. 700 BC), line 346.
Variant translation: At the beginning of the cask and at the end take thy fill, but be saving in the middle; for at the bottom saving comes too late.
Source: Works and Days (c. 700 BC), line 368 (translated by Hugh G. Evelyn-White).
“The best treasure a man can have is a sparing tongue.”
Source: Works and Days (c. 700 BC), line 719.
“They died, as if o'ercome by sleep.”
Source: Works and Days (c. 700 BC), line 116.
“The man who trusts womankind trusts deceivers.”
Source: Works and Days (c. 700 BC), line 375.
“Often an entire city has suffered because of an evil man.”
Variant translation: Oft hath even a whole city reaped the evil fruit of a bad man.
Source: Works and Days (c. 700 BC), line 240.
