Archilochus
Archilochus
Archilochus was a Greek lyric poet from the island of Paros in the Archaic period. He is celebrated for his versatile and innovative use of poetic meters and as the earliest known Greek author to compose almost entirely on the theme of his own emotions and experiences. Alexandrian scholars included him in their canonic list of iambic poets, along with Semonides and Hipponax, yet ancient commentators also numbered him with Tyrtaeus and Callinus as the possible inventor of the elegy...
NationalityGreek
ProfessionPoet
law safety useless
Let who will boast their courage in the field, I find but little safety from my shield, Nature's, not honour's law we must obey: This made me cast my useless shield away.
father night men
Zeus, the father of the Olympic Gods, turned mid-day into night, hiding the light of the dazzling Sun; and sore fear came upon men.
life prudent flight
And by a prudent flight and cunning save A life which valour could not, from the grave. A better buckler I can soon regain, But who can get another life again?
should old-woman
Old women should not seek to be perfumed.
father believe night
Nothing can be surprising any more or impossible or miraculous, now that Zeus, father of the Olympians has made night out of noonday, hiding the bright sunlight, and . . . fear has come upon mankind. After this, men can believe anything, expect anything. Don't any of you be surprised in future if land beasts change places with dolphins and go to live in their salty pastures, and get to like the sounding waves of the sea more than the land, while the dolphins prefer the mountains.
eye envy matter
These golden matters Of Gyges and his treasuries Are no concern of mine. Jealousy has no power over me, Nor do I envy a god his work, And I do not burn to rule. Such things have no Fascination for my eyes.
knowledge hedgehogs foxes
The Fox knows many things-the hedgehog one big one.
past order years
Take the joy and bear the sorrow, looking past your hopes and fears: learn to recognize the measured dance that orders all our years.
heart men feet
Be brave, my heart. Plant your feet and square your shoulders to the enemy. Meet him among the man-killing spears. Hold your ground. In victory, do not brag; in defeat, do not weep.
art hurt warrior
I have a high art, I hurt with cruelty those who would damage me.
fall warrior expectations
We don't rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training.
science night light
Nothing can be sworn impossible since Zeus made night during mid-day, hiding the light of the shining Sun.