Aristophanes

You will never make the crab walk straight.

— Aristophanes

Under every stone lurks a politician.

— Aristophanes

An actor should refine public taste.

— Aristophanes

A man may learn wisdom even from a foe.

— Aristophanes

Even if you persuade me, you won’t persuade me.

— Aristophanes

You cannot make a crab walk straight.

— Aristophanes

Today things are better than yesterday.

— Aristophanes

“Comedy too can sometimes discern what is right.”

— Aristophanes

“Lysistrata: To seize the treasury; no more money, no more war.”

— Aristophanes

No man is really honest; none of us is above the influence of gain.

— Aristophanes

Courtesy is simply doing unto others what you would like them to do unto you.

— Aristophanes

“Chorus [of Birds]: Man is a truly cunning creature.”

— Aristophanes

It is from their foes, not their friends, that cities learn the lesson of building high walls.

— Aristophanes

Love is simply the name for the desire and the pursuit of the whole.

— Aristophanes

Full of wiles, full of guile, at all times, in all ways, are the children of Men.

— Aristophanes

Comedy too can sometimes discern what is right. I shall not please, but I shall say what is true.

— Aristophanes

“need a poet who can really write. Nowadays it seems like ‘many are gone, and those that live are bad’.12”

— Aristophanes

Tis not for us to warn a wilful sinner; We stay him not, but let him run his course, Till by misfortunes…

— Aristophanes

You vote yourselves salaries out of the public funds and care only for your own personal interests; hence the state limps along.

— Aristophanes

Meton (astronomer in 5th century BC): With the straight ruler I set to work To make the circle four-cornered .

— Aristophanes

“Chorus of old men: How true the saying: 'Tis impossible to live with the baggages, impossible to live without 'em.”

— Aristophanes

I saw a cavalry captain buy vegetable soup on horseback. He carried the whole mess home in his helmet.

— Aristophanes

An insult directed at the wicked is not to be censured; on the contrary, the honest man, if he has sense, can…

— Aristophanes

“In days when men were men (And you should have seen us then)”

— Aristophanes

To win the people, always cook them some savoury that pleases them.

— Aristophanes

Quickly, bring me a beaker of wine, so that I may wet my mind and say something clever.

— Aristophanes

Thou shouldst not decide until thou hast heard what both have to say.

— Aristophanes

Wise men, though all laws were abolished, would lead the same lives

— Aristophanes

You can't have anything else to say: you've poured out every drop of what you know.

— Aristophanes

Ignorance can be cured, but stupidity is forever

— Aristophanes

It is the compelling power of great thoughts and ideas to engender phrases of equal size.

— Aristophanes

A man should be able to stand up under any disaster for his country's good.

— Aristophanes

Wise people, even though all laws were abolished, would still lead the same life.

— Aristophanes

How can I study from below, that which is above?

— Aristophanes

Characteristics of a popular politician: a horrible voice, bad breeding, and a vulgar manner.

— Aristophanes

To be insulted by you is to be garlanded with lilies

— Aristophanes

To plunder, to lie, to show your arse, are three essentials for climbing high.

— Aristophanes

Surely you do not believe in the gods. What's your argument? Where's your proof?

— Aristophanes

There is no honest man! not one, that can resist the attraction of gold!

— Aristophanes

Ye Children of Man! whose life is a span, Protracted with sorrow from day to day, Naked and featherless, feeble and querulous,…

— Aristophanes