4 Quotes & Sayings By Theognis

Theognis of Megara (c. 6th century BC) was a Greek lyric poet who wrote in the archaic dialect of Archaic Greek known as Aeolic. He was part of the group called the Seven Sages of Greece, which also included Simonides, Alcaeus, Hipponax, and Antimachus. He was a traditionalist in his poetry, the earliest Greek lyric poet to focus on emotional rather than physical love Read more

The work of Theognis was widely admired during antiquity and by Renaissance writers. The work attributed to him was very popular in antiquity, appearing in numerous poems by other poets, notably Pindar also used Theognis as a model for his own style. Theognis is generally regarded as the greatest of the elegiac poets. His poetry is remarkable for its psychological insight into human nature - for example his description of love's blindness or 'thumos'.

When it comes to the nature of love there are two contrasting views about his work: some believe that his theme is love overcoming evil while others believe he explored the nature of love itself.

1
I heard the voice of that bird, son of Polypas, whose piercing outcryand whose arrival announces to men the season when fieldsare plowed, and the voice of her broke the heart that darkens within me, since other men posess my flourishing acres now, and not for me are the mules dragging the plow through the grainland, since I have given my heart to the restless seafarer's life. Theognis
2
Whatever fate ordains, danger or hurt, or death predetermined, nothing can avert. Theognis
3
I will blame no enemy that is a good man, nor yet praise a friend that is bad Theognis