Menander

"We live, not as we wish to, but as we can."

"Riches cover a multitude of woes."

"ὃν οἱ θεοὶ φιλοῦσιν ἀποθνῄσκει νέος"

"At times discretion should be thrown aside, and with the foolish we should play the fool."

"The truth sometimes not sought for comes forth to the light."

"ἀπὸ μηχανῆς θεὸς [ἡμῖν] ἐπεφάνηϛ"

"τὰ σῦκα σῦκα, τὴν σκάφην σκάφην..."

"Marriage, if one will face the truth, is an evil, but a necessary evil."

"It is not white hair that engenders wisdom."

"οὐ γὰρ ἔρχεται μόνον"

"Health and intellect are the two blessings of life."

"The man who runs may fight again."

"Conscience is a God to all mortals."

"Take notice, Pheidias, that you are human yourself, and that the wretched man is also human, in order that you may not covet what's beyond you. But when you say that you suffer from insomnia, you'll know the cause if you'll examine yourself what man you are. You take a stroll in the market-place; you come in forthwith; if your two legs are tired you take a luxurious bath; you rise up and eat greedily at pleasure; your life itself is a sleep. In fine, you have no ill; your disease is luxury through which you have passed — but something rather hackneyed, my young master, occurs to me — please excuse me — as the saying goes, you know, you are so crowded by your blessings, know it well, that you have no room to defecate."

"μειράκιον, οὔ μοι κατανοεῖν δοκεῖς ὅτι ὑπὸ τῆς ἰδίας ἕκαστα κακίας σήπεται, καὶ πᾶν τὸ λυμαινὁμενόν ..."

"This man has lived here a reasonably long time and has gladly talked in his life to no one, has spoken first to no one except — of necessity, since he is a neighbor and passes by — me, Pan. And he immediately regrets it, I'm sure."

"Rest assured, for every piece of business the most businesslike thing is to choose the right moment."

"To say more than what's necessary I don't think is appropriate for a man. Except know this, child — for I wish to tell you a little about me and my character — if everyone were like me there wouldn't be law courts, and they wouldn't take them away to prisons, and there wouldn't be wars, but having goods in measure each man would be happy. But perhaps those things are more pleasing. Act that way. This difficult and grouchy old man will be out of your way."

"Even if you were a softy, you took the mattock, you dug, you were willing to work. In this part he most shows himself a man, whoever tolerates making himself equal to another, rich to poor. For this man will bear a change of fortune with self-control. You have given a sufficient proof of your character. I wish only that you remain as you are."

"ὦ Μένανδρε καὶ βίε, πότερος ἄρ' ὑμῶν πότερον ἐμιμήσατο;"

"Menander's charm makes him utterly satisfying, for in these works that present with universal appeal the splendours of Greece, society finds its culture, the schools their study, the theatre its triumph. The nature and possibilities of literary elegance were by him revealed for the first time. He has invaded every quarter of the world with his invincible glamour, bringing all hearts under the sway of the Greek language. What sound reason does the cultivated man ever find for entering a theatre, except Menander?"