NURSE: Terrible is the temperament of royalty,
Who are rarely controlled, always imperious;
It is hard for them to give up their wrath.
To get used to living like everybody else
Is better.[ΤΡΟΦΌΣ: δεινὰ τυράννων λήματα καί πως
ὀλίγ᾽ ἀρχόμενοι, πολλὰ κρατοῦντες
χαλεπῶς ὀργὰς μεταβάλλουσιν.
τὸ γὰρ εἰθίσθαι ζῆν ἐπ᾽ ἴσοισιν
κρεῖσσον.]Euripides (485?-406? BC) Greek tragic dramatist
Medea [Μήδεια], l. 119ff (431 BC) [tr. Podlecki (1989)]
(Source)
(Source (Greek)). Other translations:For the souls
Of Kings are prone to cruelty, so seldom
Subdued, and over others wont to rule,
That it is difficult for such to change
Their angry purpose. Happier I esteem
The lot of those who still are wont to live
Among their equals.
[tr. Wodhull (1782)]Kings have a fiery quality of soul,
Accustom'd to command, if once they feel
control, though small, their anger blazes out
Not easily extinguish'd: hence I deem
An equal mediocrity of life
More to be wish'd.
[tr. Potter (1814)]Dread are the humours of princes: as wont
To be ruled in few things and in many to lord,
It is hard to them to turn from their wrath.
But to lead one's life in the level ways
Is best.
[tr. Webster (1868)]Strange are the tempers of princes, and maybe because they seldom have to obey, and mostly lord it over others, change they their moods with difficulty. 'Tis better then to have been trained to live on equal terms.
[tr. Coleridge (1891)]Dreadful are the dispositions of tyrants, and somehow in few things controlled, in most absolute, they with difficulty lay aside their passion. The being accustomed then to live in mediocrity of life is the better.
[tr. Buckley (1892)]Ah princes -- how fearful their moods are! --
Long ruling, unschooled to obey, --
Unforgiving, unsleeping their feuds are.
Better life's level way.
[tr. Way (Loeb) (1894)]Rude are the wills of princes: yea,
Prevailing alway, seldom crossed,
On fitful winds their moods are tossed:
'Tis best men tread the equal way.
[tr. Murray (1906)]Great people’s tempers are terrible, always
Having their own way, seldom checked,
Dangerous they shift from mood to mood.
How much better to have been accustomed
To live on equal terms with one’s neighbors.
[tr. Warner (1944)]Oh, it's a bad thing
To be born of high race, and brought up wilful and powerful in a great house, unruled
And ruling many: for then if misfortune comes it is unendurable, it drives you mad. I say that poor people
Are happier: the little commoners and humble people, the poor in spirit.
[tr. Jeffers (1946)]The mind of a queen
Is a thing to fear. A queen is used
To giving commands, not obeying them;
And her rage once roused is hard to appease.
To have learnt to live on the common level
Is better.
[tr. Vellacott (1963)]The minds of royalty are dangerous: since they often command and seldom obey, they are subject to violent changes of mood. For it is better to be accustomed to live on terms of equality.
[tr. Kovacs (1994)]They have frightening natures, those of royal blood; because, I imagine, they’re seldom overruled and generally have their way, they do not easily forget a grudge. Better to have formed the habit of living on equal terms with your neighbours.
[tr. Davie (1996)]How afraid I am of these royal rages! It’s so hard for such rages to subside.
Kings and queens have always been spoiled by power. They’re not used to taking orders. No, they’d much rather give them!
Kings and Queens only do what they want and forget about everyone else!
Oh, how much better it is to live a balanced life: to be an equal among equals.
[tr. Theodoridis (2004)]Tyrants’ tempers are insufferable:
they are seldom under control, their power is far-reaching.
It is hard for them to swallow their rages.
To get used to living on terms of equality
is better.
[tr. Luschnig (2007)]The pride of rulers is something to fear --
they often order men, but seldom listen,
and when their tempers change it’s hard to bear.
It’s better to get used to living life
as an equal common person.
[tr. Johnston (2008)]The temperaments of royalty are fearsome;
because they're almost unrestrained
and are so powerful, it is rare
for them to overcome their rage.
To be accustomed to live in equality
is best.
[tr. Ewans (2022)]Terrible / wonderful [deina] are the tempers of turannoi; maybe because they seldom have to obey, and mostly lord it over others, they change their moods with difficulty. It is better then to have been trained to live in equality.
[tr. Coleridge / Ceragioli / Nagy / Hour25]
Quotations about:
bad temper
Note not all quotations have been tagged, so Search may find additional quotes on this topic.
Not to be able to bear with all bad-tempered people with whom the world is crowded, shows that a man has not a good temper himself: small change is as necessary in business as golden coin.
[Ne pouvoir supporter tous les mauvais caractères dont le monde est plein n’est pas un fort bon caractère: il faut dans le commerce des pièces d’or et de la monnaie.]
Jean de La Bruyère (1645-1696) French essayist, moralist
The Characters [Les Caractères], ch. 5 “Of Society and Conversation [De la Société et de la Conversation],” § 37 (5.37) (1688) [tr. Van Laun (1885)]
(Source)
(Source (French)). Alternate translations:We must bear with some peoples bad Characters, as we do with bad Money, for the benefit of Commerce.
[Bullord ed. (1696)]Not to be able to bear with all the bad Characters the World is full of, is no good Character: Copper Mony, for the sake of Commerce, is necessary as well as Gold and Silver.
[Curll ed. (1713)]We must bear with some Peoples ill Tempers, as we do with Copper Money, for the benefit of Commerce.
[Browne ed. (1752)]To be unable to endure all the unpleasant characters of whom the world is full is not an admirable characteristic: we need, in our dealings, both gold coins and small change.
[tr. Stewart (1970)]
Righteous Indignation: Your own wrath as opposed to the shocking bad temper of others.
Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915) American writer, businessman, philosopher
The Roycroft Dictionary (1914)
(Source)
Anger’s a short frenzy, curb thy Soul,
And check thy rage, which must be rul’d or rule:
Use all thy Art, with all thy force restrain,
And take the strongest Bit, and firmest Rein.[Ira furor brevis est: animum rege; qui nisi paret
imperat; hunc frenis, hunc tu compesce catena.]Horace (65-8 BC) Roman poet, satirist, soldier, politician [Quintus Horatius Flaccus]
Epistles [Epistularum, Letters], Book 1, ep. 2 “To Lollius,” l. 62ff (1.2.62) (20 BC) [tr. Creech (1684)]
(Source)
(Source (Latin)). Other translations:Ire is shorte wrathe, rule thow thy moode, if it do not obey,
It rules forthwith, it thou with bitte, it thou with chaine must stay.
[tr. Drant (1567)]Anger id a short madness: Rule thy mind:
Which reigns, if it obeys not: [...]
With chaines, restrain it with an Iron bit.
[tr. Fanshawe; ed. Brome (1666)]Anger's a shorter phrensie. Passion reigns
If't be n't enslav'd, but curb it in with chains.
[tr. "Dr. W."; ed. Brome (1666)]Anger's a shorter madness of the mind;
Subdue the tyrant, and in fetters bind.
[tr. Francis (1747)]'Tis a short madness: calm the rising fit;
Curb it betimes, and tame it to your bit.
[tr. Howes (1845)]Rage is a short madness. Rule your passion, which commands, if it do not obey; do you restrain it with a bridle, and with fetters.
[tr. Smart/Buckley (1853)]Wrath is a short-lived madness: curb and bit
Your mind: 'twill rule you, if you rule not it.
[tr. Conington (1874)]Anger is but a short-lived frenzy-fit.
Your passion then with rein and bit subdue;
If you don't master it, 'twill master you.
[tr. Martin (1881)]Anger is a passing madness. Be master of your passions which, unless they obey you, command yuou. Control them by rein and cub.
[tr. Elgood (1893)]Anger is short-lived madness. Rule your passion, for unless it obeys, it gives commands. Check it with bridle -- check it, I pray you, with chains.
[tr. Fairclough (Loeb) (1926)]Rule your desires:
If they don't obey, they'll command. Bridle them. Chain them!
[tr. Palmer Bovie (1959)]Anger, no matter how brief, is madness. Rule your passions
or they'll rule you; manage them with reins or with a leash.
[tr. Fuchs (1977)]Anger is a transient insanity: check your passion or your passion
Checkmates you. Rule it like an unruly horse -- chain it, if you must.
[tr. Raffel (1983)]A fit of rage
Is a fit of genuine honest-to-goodness madness.
Keep control of your passions. If you don't,
Your passions are sure to get control of you.
Keep control of them, bridle them, keep them in chains.
[tr. Ferry (2001)]Rage is a burst of madness. Restrain your temper: unless it
obeys it will rule you. Keep it in check with bridle and chain.
[tr. Rudd (2005 ed.)]Anger’s a brief madness: rule your heart, that unless
It obeys, controls: and check it with bridle and chain.
[tr. Kline (2015)]
