MESSENGER: I have not now first learn’d that all
Th’ affairs of mortal men are a mere shadow:
Nor would I fear to say that those, who most
Boast of their wisdom and their deep research,
The widest in the paths of folly stray.
No mortal man is happy: if the tide
Of wealth flows in upon him, one may be
More fortunate than others, happy never.[ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ: τὰ θνητὰ δ᾽ οὐ νῦν πρῶτον ἡγοῦμαι σκιάν,
οὐδ᾽ ἂν τρέσας εἴποιμι τοὺς σοφοὺς βροτῶν
δοκοῦντας εἶναι καὶ μεριμνητὰς λόγων
τούτους μεγίστην μωρίαν ὀφλισκάνειν.
θνητῶν γὰρ οὐδείς ἐστιν εὐδαίμων ἀνήρ:
ὄλβου δ᾽ ἐπιρρυέντος εὐτυχέστερος
ἄλλου γένοιτ᾽ ἂν ἄλλος, εὐδαίμων δ᾽ ἂν οὔ.]Euripides (485?-406? BC) Greek tragic dramatist
Medea [Μήδεια], l. 1224ff (431 BC) [tr. Potter (1814)]
(Source)
Having brought word to Medea of Glauce and Creon's tortured deaths.
(Source (Greek)). Other translations:Not now for the first time do I esteem
Human affairs a shadow: without fear
Can I pronounce, they who appear endued
With wisdom and most plausibly trick out
Specious harangues, deserve to be accounted
The worst of fools. The man completely blest
Exists not. Some in overflowing wealth
May be more fortunate, but none are happy.
[tr. Wodhull (1782)]But not now first I count the lot of man
A passing shadow: and I might say those
Of mortals who are very seeming wise
And fret themselves with learnings, those are they
Who make them guilty of the chiefest folly;
But no one mortal is a happy man,
Though, riches flooding in, more prosperous
One than another grow; yet none is happy.
[tr. Webster (1868)]Not now for the first time I think this human life a shadow; yea, and without shrinking I will say that they amongst men who pretend to wisdom and expend deep thought on words do incur a serious charge of folly; for amongst mortals no man is happy; wealth may pour in and make one luckier than another, but none can happy be.
[tr. Coleridge (1891)]But the affairs of mortals not now for the first time I deem a shadow, and I would venture to say that those persons who seem to be wise and are researchers of arguments, these I say, run into the greatest folly. For no mortal man is happy; but wealth pouring in, one man may be more fortunate than another, but happy he can not be.
[tr. Buckley (1892)]But man's lot now, as oft, I count a shadow,
Nor fear to say that such as seem to be
Wise among men and cunning in speech-lore,
Even these are chargeable with deepest folly;
For among mortals happy man is none.
In fortune's flood-tide might a man become
More prosperous than his neighbour: happy? -- no!
[tr. Way (Loeb) (1894)]Long ago
I looked upon man's days, and found a grey
Shadow. And this thing more I surely say,
That those of all men who are counted wise,
Strong wits, devisers of great policies,
Do pay the bitterest toll. Since life began,
Hath there in God's eye stood one happy man?
Fair days roll on, and bear more gifts or less
Of fortune, but to no man happiness.
[tr. Murray (1906)]Our human life I think and have thought a shadow,
And I do not fear to say that those who are held
Wise among men and who search the reasons of things
Are those who bring the most sorrow on themselves.
For of mortals there is no one who is happy.
If wealth flows in upon one, one may be perhaps
Luckier than one’s neighbor, but still not happy.
[tr. Warner (1944)]As for human life,
It is a shadow, as I have long believed. And this
I say without hesitation: those whom most would call
Intelligent, the propounders of wise theories --
Their folly is of all men's the most culpable.
Happiness is a thing no man possesses. Fortune
May come now to one man, now to another, as
Prosperity increases; happiness never.
[tr. Vellacott (1963)]I have often considered the human condition a shadow,
And I would not hesitate to say that those
Who seem to be wise and concern themselves with learning,
These risk being called the biggest fools.
For no mortal is truly blessed;
When wealth flows one may have more luck
Than another, but is not for that reason blessed.
[tr. Podlecki (1989)]As for our mortal life, this is not the first time that I have thought it to be a shadow, and I would say without any fear that those mortals who seem to be clever and workers-up of polished speeches are guilty of the greatest folly. For no mortal ever attains to blessedness. One may may be luckier than another when wealth flows his way, but blessed never.
[tr. Kovacs (Perseus); Kovacs / Zhang / Rogak]As for our mortal life, this is not the first time that I have thought it to be a shadow, and I would say without any fear that those mortals who seem to be clever and crafters of polished speeches are guilty of the greatest folly. For no mortal ever attains to blessedness. One may may be luckier than another when wealth flows his way, but blessed never.
[tr. Kovacs (Loeb) (1994)]As for the life of man,. I think and have often thought it is a shadow. I would not hesitate to say that those who pass for thinkers on this earth, for men of subtle reasoning, are guilty of being the greatest fools. For no one in this life of ours knows happiness. When fortune’s tide flows towards him, one man may surpass another in prosperity, but you should not call him happy.
[tr. Davie (1996)]As for me, I’ve said it often: All things accomplished by mortals are mere shadows. Nor am I afraid to say that those people who consider themselves philosophers and know the art of spinning good words and say that man can live in happiness, well, those men are stupid!
Wealth may make your life a little better than that of your neighbour but it will not give you happiness.
[tr. Theodoridis (2004)]Not for the first time I find our lives are a shadow,
and I am not afraid to say that people who think
they have everything figured out and are masters of logic
— they are responsible for the greatest folly.
No human being is happy.
Strike it rich and you are luckier
than your neighbor — but happy, never.
[tr. Luschnig (2007)]As for human life,
it seems to me, and not for the first time,
nothing but shadows. And I might say,
without feeling any fear, those mortals
who seem wise, who prepare their words with care,
are guilty of the greatest foolishness.
Among human beings no one is happy.
Wealth may flow in to produce a man
more lucky than another, but no man,
is ever happy, no one.
[tr. Johnston (2008)]This is not the first time that I find human affairs to be a shadowy, uncertain thing. Without any hesitation I would say that those among men who have a reputation for being sophoi, and who expend deep thought on reasonings, do incur the greatest charge of folly. No man among mortals is happy [eudaimōn]. Prosperity [olbos] may pour in and make one luckier than another, but not eudaimōn.
[tr. Coleridge / Ceragioli / Nagy / Hour25]
Quotations about:
philosophers
Note not all quotations have been tagged, so Search may find additional quotes on this topic.
We must come to the Principles of Jesus. But, when will all Men and all Nations do as they would be done by? Forgive all Injuries and love their Enemies as themselves? I leave those profound Phylosophers whose Sagacity perceives the Perfectibility of Humane Nature, and those illuminated Theologians who expect the Apocalyptic Reign, to enjoy their transporting hopes; provided always that they will not engage us in Crusades and French Revolutions, nor burn us for doubting.
John Adams (1735–1826) American lawyer, Founding Father, statesman, US President (1797–1801)
Letter (1816-02-02) to Thomas Jefferson
(Source)
Those very philosophers even in the books which they write about despising glory, put their own names on the title-page. In the very act of recording their contempt for renown and notoriety, they desire to have their own names known and talked of.
[Ipsi illi philosophi etiam illis libellis, quos de contemnenda gloria scribunt, nomen suum inscribunt; in eo ipso in quo praedicationem nobilitatemque despiciunt, praedicari de se, ac nominari volunt.]
Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) Roman orator, statesman, philosopher
Pro Archia Poeta [For Archia the Poet], ch. 11 / sec. 26 (62 BC) [tr. Yonge (1856)]
(Source)
(Source (Latin)). Other translations:For celebrated philosophers themselves inscribed their name even on the lampoons which they wrote on contempt of fame; in that very thing in which they despise publicity and nobility, they wish themselves to be made public and to merit a name.
[tr. M'Donogh Mahony (1886)]Even those very philosophers who write treatises on the despising of fame, put their names on the title-page; in the very place in which they deprecate self-advertisement and notoriety they take steps to have themselves advertised and made notorious.
[ed. Harbottle (1897)]Those philosophers themselves, even in those pamphlets which they write concerning despising glory, will inscribe their names: in this (case) itself, in which they despise commendation and renown they wish to be commended concerning themselves, and (that) themselves to (should) be named.
[tr. Dewey (1916)]Why, upon the very books in which they bid us scorn ambition philosophers inscribe their names! They seek advertisement and publicity for themselves on the very page whereon they pour contempt upon advertisement and publicity.
[tr. Watts (Loeb) (1923)]Those great philosophers themselves, in the very books which they compose on the subject of despising glory, write their own names upon the title-pages; and in the very thing wherein they look down on public praise and a name of renown, they claim to be publicly praised and named.
[tr. Allcroft/Plaistowe (c. 1925)]The very philosophers themselves, even in those books which they write on contempt of glory, inscribe their names; in that very work in which they profess scorn for notice and reputation, they wish to be advertised and celebrated.
[tr. Guinach (1962)]The philosophers who write treatises "on despising glory" actually inscribe their own names on those very books! In the actual writings in which they scorn publicity and fame they want to be publicized and named!
[tr. Berry (2000)]
