Euripides -- Medea [Μήδεια], l. 663ff (431 BC) [tr. Vellacott (1963)]

Dave — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 15:23:22 +0000

ÆGEUS: All happiness to you Medea! Between old friends
There is no better greeting.

[ΑἸΓΕΎΣ: Μήδεια, χαῖρε: τοῦδε γὰρ προοίμιον
κάλλιον οὐδεὶς οἶδε προσφωνεῖν φίλους.]

Euripides (485?-406? BC) Greek tragic dramatist
Medea [Μήδεια], l. 663ff (431 BC) [tr. Vellacott (1963)]
(Source)

(Source (Greek)). Other translations:

Medea, hail! for no man can devise
Terms more auspicious to accost his friends.
[tr. Wodhull (1782)]

Medea, hail! When we salute our friends,
No terms of higher honour can we use.
[tr. Potter (1814)]

Medea, hail; since sooth no fairer greeting
Hath any known wherewith to reverence friends.
[tr. Webster (1868)]

All hail, Medea! no man knoweth fairer prelude to the greeting of friends than this.
[tr. Coleridge (1891)]

Medea, hail! for no one hath known a more honorable salutation to address to friends than this.
[tr. Buckley (1892)]

Medea, hail! -- for fairer greeting-word
None knoweth to accost his friends withal.
[tr. Way (Loeb) (1894)]

Have joy, Medea! 'Tis the homeliest
Word that old friends can greet with, and the best.
[tr. Murray (1906)]

Medea, greeting! This is the best introduction
Of which men know for conversation between friends.
[tr. Warner (1944)]

Medea, rejoice! There is no fairer greeting from friend to friend.
[tr. Jeffers (1946)]

Medea, I wish you well. No one knows
How to address a better greeting to friends.
[tr. Podlecki (1989)]

Medea, I wish you joy: no one knows a better way than this to address a friend.
[tr. Kovacs (Loeb) (1994)]

Medea, I wish you joy. No one knows a finer prelude than this in addressing friends.
[tr. Davie (1996)]

A joyful day to you, Medea. I give you the best greeting anyone can give to his friends.
[tr. Theodoridis (2004)]

Medea, hello. For no one knows a better way
than this to address friends and wish them well.
[tr. Luschnig (2007)]

I wish you all happiness, Medea.
There is no better way to greet one’s friends.
[tr. Johnston (2008)]

Medea, be of good fortune; no one can find a better way than this to greet a friend.
[tr. Ewans (2022)]

I wish you kharis, Medea! No one knows a finer beginning than this to address philoi.
[tr. Coleridge / Ceragioli / Nagy / Hour25]

Gaiman, Neil -- Blog entry (2001-12-31), “As I Was Saying”

Dave — Mon, 12 Feb 2018 17:50:26 +0000

May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.

Neil Gaiman (b. 1960) British author, screenwriter, fabulist
Blog entry (2001-12-31), “As I Was Saying”
(Source)

Gaiman, Neil -- Speech (2012-05-17), Commencement, University of the Arts, Philadelphia [19:28]

Dave — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 21:27:41 +0000

And now go, and make interesting mistakes, make amazing mistakes, make glorious and fantastic mistakes. Break rules. Leave the world more interesting for your being here. Make good art.

Neil Gaiman (b. 1960) British author, screenwriter, fabulist
Speech (2012-05-17), Commencement, University of the Arts, Philadelphia [19:28]
(Source)

(Source (Video))

Bible, Vol. 2. New Testament -- Book 1. Gospel of Matthew 5: 1ff (Matt 5:1–12), “The Beatitudes” (Jesus) [CEB (2011)]

Dave — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:26:39 +0000

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountain. He sat down and his disciples came to him. He taught them, saying:
“Happy are people who are hopeless, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
“Happy are people who grieve, because they will be made glad.
“Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth.
“Happy are people who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because they will be fed until they are full.
“Happy are people who show mercy, because they will receive mercy.
“Happy are people who have pure hearts, because they will see God.
“Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God’s children.
“Happy are people whose lives are harassed because they are righteous, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
“Happy are you when people insult you and harass you and speak all kinds of bad and false things about you, all because of me. Be full of joy and be glad, because you have a great reward in heaven. In the same way, people harassed the prophets who came before you.”

[Ἰδὼν δὲ τοὺς ὄχλους ἀνέβη εἰς τὸ ὄρος, καὶ καθίσαντος αὐτοῦ προσῆλθαν αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἀνοίξας τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ ἐδίδασκεν αὐτοὺς λέγων,
Μακάριοι οἱ πτωχοὶ τῷ πνεύματι,
ὅτι αὐτῶν ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.
μακάριοι οἱ πενθοῦντες,
ὅτι αὐτοὶ παρακληθήσονται.
μακάριοι οἱ πραεῖς,
ὅτι αὐτοὶ κληρονομήσουσιν τὴν γῆν.
μακάριοι οἱ πεινῶντες καὶ διψῶντες τὴν δικαιοσύνην,
ὅτι αὐτοὶ χορτασθήσονται.
μακάριοι οἱ ἐλεήμονες,
ὅτι αὐτοὶ ἐλεηθήσονται.
μακάριοι οἱ καθαροὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ,
ὅτι αὐτοὶ τὸν θεὸν ὄψονται.
μακάριοι οἱ εἰρηνοποιοί,
ὅτι αὐτοὶ υἱοὶ θεοῦ κληθήσονται.
μακάριοι οἱ δεδιωγμένοι ἕνεκεν δικαιοσύνης,
ὅτι αὐτῶν ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.
μακάριοί ἐστε ὅταν ὀνειδίσωσιν ὑμᾶς καὶ διώξωσιν καὶ εἴπωσιν πᾶν πονηρὸν καθ᾽ ὑμῶν [ψευδόμενοι] ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ. χαίρετε καὶ ἀγαλλιᾶσθε, ὅτι ὁ μισθὸς ὑμῶν πολὺς ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς· οὕτως γὰρ ἐδίωξαν τοὺς προφήτας τοὺς πρὸ ὑμῶν.]

The Bible (The New Testament) (AD 1st - 2nd C) Christian sacred scripture
Book 1. Gospel of Matthew 5: 1ff (Matt 5:1–12), “The Beatitudes” (Jesus) [CEB (2011)]
(Source)

The first part of the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:1-7:29). This passage is paralleled (but shorter) in Luke 6:20-23.

(Source (Greek)). Alternate translations:

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: and he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
[KJV (1611)]

Seeing the crowds, he went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:
'How happy are the poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
'Happy the gentle: they shall have the earth for their heritage.
'Happy those who mourn: they shall be comforted.
'Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right: they shall be satisfied.
'Happy the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.
'Happy the pure in heart: they shall see God.
'Happy the peacemakers: they shall be called sons of God.
'Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
'Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven; this is how they persecuted the prophets before you.'
[JB (1966)]

Jesus saw the crowds and went up a hill, where he sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them:
“Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor;
the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!
“Happy are those who mourn;
God will comfort them!
“Happy are those who are humble;
they will receive what God has promised!
“Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires;
God will satisfy them fully!
“Happy are those who are merciful to others;
God will be merciful to them!
“Happy are the pure in heart;
they will see God!
“Happy are those who work for peace;
God will call them his children!
“Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires;
the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!
“Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers. Be happy and glad, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven. This is how the prophets who lived before you were persecuted."
[GNT (1976)]

Seeing the crowds, he went onto the mountain. And when he was seated his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:
'How blessed are the poor in spirit: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
'Blessed are the gentle: they shall have the earth as inheritance.
'Blessed are those who mourn: they shall be comforted.
'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for uprightness: they shall have their fill.
'Blessed are the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.
'Blessed are the pure in heart: they shall see God.
'Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be recognised as children of God.
'Blessed are those who are persecuted in the cause of uprightness: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
'Blessed are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven; this is how they persecuted the prophets before you.
[NJB (1985)]

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he began to speak and taught them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
[NRSV (2021 ed.)]

WIST Quotations

Euripides -- Medea [Μήδεια], l. 663ff (431 BC) [tr. Vellacott (1963)]

Gaiman, Neil -- Blog entry (2001-12-31), “As I Was Saying”

Gaiman, Neil -- Speech (2012-05-17), Commencement, University of the Arts, Philadelphia [19:28]

Bible, Vol. 2. New Testament -- Book 1. Gospel of Matthew 5: 1ff (Matt 5:1–12), “The Beatitudes” (Jesus) [CEB (2011)]