Good friend Quote by Aristophanes
““HERMES Meseems I can sniff a man. (HE PERCEIVES TRYGAEUS ASTRIDE HIS BEETLE.) Why, what plague is this? TRYGAEUS A horse-beetle. HERMES Oh! impudent, shameless rascal! oh! scoundrel! triple scoundrel! the greatest scoundrel in the world! how did you come here? Oh! scoundrel of all scoundrels! your name? Reply. TRYGAEUS Triple scoundrel. HERMES Your country? TRYGAEUS Triple scoundrel. HERMES Your father? TRYGAEUS My father? Triple scoundrel. HERMES By the Earth, you shall die, unless you tell me your name. TRYGAEUS I am Trygaeus of the Athmonian deme, a good vine-dresser, little addicted to quibbling and not at all an informer. HERMES Why do you come? TRYGAEUS I come to bring you this meat. HERMES Ah! my good friend, did you have a good journey? TRYGAEUS Glutton, be off! I no longer seem a triple scoundrel to you. Come, call Zeus. HERMES””
About This Quote
Source Play: The Frogs (parody), 5th century BC
A comedic exchange mocks a character’s boastful identity and the absurdity of self‑importance.
In simple terms: The dialogue satirizes pretentiousness and overblown self‑praise.
Key Takeaway
Beware of inflated ego and mock pretension.
Themes
ego
identity
humor
Mood
playful
ironic
Type
comedic
parodic
When to use this quote
- theatre performance
- literary analysis
- creative writing
Key Concepts
satire
mythology
character archetype
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the exaggeration reveal about societal values?
- How does satire expose personal flaws?
A Different Perspective
Humor can obscure serious critique.
![“You [demagogues] are like the fishers for eels; in still waters they catch nothing, but if they thoroughly stir up the slime, their fishing is good; in the same way it's only in troublous times that you line your pockets.” quote by Aristophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4f7/aristophanes-3340_demagoguery_you-demagogues-are-like-the-fishers-for_87488.jpg)
![“[Y]ou [man] are fool enough, it seems, to dare to war with [woman=] me, when for your faithful ally you might win me easily.” quote by Aristophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d43/aristophanes-3340_allies_y-ou-man-are-fool-enough-it-seems-to-dar_185861.jpg)
