Greek dramatist (525 B.C.-456 B.C.)
Fortune is for all, judgment is theirs who have won it for themselves.
AESCHYLUS
fragment
His resolve is not to seem, but to be, the best.
AESCHYLUS
The Seven Against Thebes
Willingly no one chooses the yoke of slavery.
AESCHYLUS
Agamemnon
Death is preferable -- it is a milder fate than tyranny.
AESCHYLUS
Agamemnon
The gods at will can shape a gladder strain, and from the lamentations at the graveside, a song of triumph may arise.
AESCHYLUS
The Libation Bearers
The cure is in the house, not brought by other hands from distant places, but by its own, in agony and blood.
AESCHYLUS
The Libation Bearers
Verily a prosperous fool is a heavy load.
AESCHYLUS
fragment
Time cleanses what it touches over time.
AESCHYLUS
Eumenides
Whoever is just willingly and without compulsion will not lack happiness; he will never be utterly destroyed.
AESCHYLUS
The Eumenides
For there below ground sits the Dark God, strong to call men to judgment; he sees all, and writes it in his memory.
AESCHYLUS
The Eumenides
A prosperous fool is a grievous burden.
AESCHYLUS
fragment
Too credulous a woman's longing flies
And spreading swiftly, swiftly dies.
AESCHYLUS
Agamemnon
The Sphinx, the Watch-dog that presideth over evil days.
AESCHYLUS
fragment, Sphinx
Success is man's god.
AESCHYLUS
Choephorae
Give heed, give heed and give your sympathy
To one who suffers; sorrow roaming wide
Impartial stops and stays awhile with me,
To tarry later seated close by thee.
AESCHYLUS
Prometheus Bound
For this our task hath Fate spun without fail to last for ever sure, that we on man weighed down with deeds of hate should follow till the earth his life immure. Nor when he dies can he boast of being truly free.
AESCHYLUS
The Eumenides
What house
would ask for Vengeance
to perch heavy,
defiling the rafters like some bird of ill omen?
AESCHYLUS
The Suppliants
Ares ever loves to pluck all the fairest flower of an armed host.
AESCHYLUS
fragment, Europe
To him that toileth God oweth glory, child of his toil.
AESCHYLUS
fragment
For, alone of gods, Death loves not gifts; no, not by sacrifice, nor by libation, canst thou aught avail with him; he hath no altar nor hath he hymn of praise; from him, alone of gods, Persuasion stands aloof.
AESCHYLUS
fragment, Niobe