--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They yoked themselves to a car and drew…" description: "\"“They yoked themselves to a car and drew her all the long way through dust and heat. Everyone admired their filial piety when they arrived and the prou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/edith-hamilton-7366_best-gift_they-yoked-themselves-to-a-car-and-drew_2491985.jpg" --- # They yoked themselves to a car and drew her all the long… ![“They yoked themselves to a car and drew her all the long way through dust and heat. Everyone admired their filial piety when they arrived and the proud and happy mother standing before the statue prayed that Hera would reward them by giving them the best gift in her power. As she finished her…” quote by Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/edith-hamilton-7366_best-gift_they-yoked-themselves-to-a-car-and-drew_2491985.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/edith-hamilton-7366_best-gift_they-yoked-themselves-to-a-car-and-drew_2491985.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/edith-hamilton-7366_best-gift_they-yoked-themselves-to-a-car-and-drew_2491985.jpg) > ““They yoked themselves to a car and drew her all the long way through dust and heat. Everyone admired their filial piety when they arrived and the proud and happy mother standing before the statue prayed that Hera would reward them by giving them the best gift in her power. As she finished her prayer the two lads sank to the ground. They were smiling and they looked as if they were peacefully asleep but they were dead. (Biton and Cleobis)”” [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A son’s devotion to his mother leads to divine reward, but the reward is death, showing that devotion can have tragic limits. **In simple terms:** Devotion can bring both honor and tragedy. Key Takeaway Respect and gratitude, but recognize limits. Themes filial piety honor divine reward tragic fate Mood somber reflective Type mythological cautionary When to use this quote - family duty - honor rituals - cultural storytelling - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts Greek mythology heroic sacrifice Questions to Reflect On - What are the costs of extreme devotion? - When should gratitude be balanced with self‑preservation? A Different Perspective The story glorifies sacrifice without questioning its cost. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best gift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-gift/) [Filial piety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filial-piety/) [Happy Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-mother/) [Hera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hera/) [Long way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-way/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth/) [Mythology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mythology/) [Piety Arrived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piety-arrived-973247/) [Prayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayed/) [Prayed Hera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayed-hera-973245/) [Statue Prayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statue-prayed-973246/) ## Related quotes > [“two cronies drank to the memory of their past. An abyss of fortune or of temperament sundered him from them. 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He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/buddha-nature-or-real-self-being-the-seat-of-love-and-the-nucleus-of/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [“In Hwang’s view, the Pyongyang leadership “used the feudalistic idea of filial piety to justify absolutism of the Great Leader. Filial piety in feudalism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-k-martin/in-hwang-s-view-the-pyongyang-leadership-used-the-feudalistic-idea-of/) [Bradley K. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-k-martin/) > [One should put forth great effort in matters of learning. One should read books concerning military matters, and direct his attention exclusively to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kato-kiyomasa/one-should-put-forth-great-effort-in-matters-of-learning-one-should/) [Kato Kiyomasa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kato-kiyomasa/) > [“An abyss of fortune or of temperament sundered him from them. His mind seemed older than theirs: it shone coldly on their strifes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/an-abyss-of-fortune-or-of-temperament-sundered-him-from-them-his-mind/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“Consider him indulgently: the Egoist is the Son of Himself. He is likewise the Father. And the son loves the father, the father the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-meredith/consider-him-indulgently-the-egoist-is-the-son-of-himself-he-is/) [George Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-meredith/) > [“Many people in this room have an Etsy store where they create unique, unreplicable artifacts or useful items to be sold on a small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/many-people-in-this-room-have-an-etsy-store-where-they-create-unique/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Filial Piety is the principle of Heaven, The righteousness of Earth, And the (proper) conduct of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zengzi/filial-piety-is-the-principle-of-heaven-the-righteousness-of-earth/) [Zengzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zengzi/) > [One who was born in the house of a warrior, regardless of his rank or class, first acquaints himself with a man of military…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takeda-shingen/one-who-was-born-in-the-house-of-a-warrior-regardless-of-his-rank-or/) [Takeda Shingen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takeda-shingen/) > [The law of nature instructs most animals to cherish and educate their infant progeny. The law of reason inculcates to the human species the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-law-of-nature-instructs-most-animals-to-cherish-and-educate-their/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) ## More by Edith Hamilton > [Poetry and preaching do not go well together; when the preacher mounts the pulpit the poet usually goes away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/poetry-and-preaching-do-not-go-well-together-when-the-preacher-mounts/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [When faith is supported by facts or by logic it ceases to be faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/when-faith-is-supported-by-facts-or-by-logic-it-ceases-to-be-faith/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [Ages of faith and of unbelief are always said to mark the course of history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/ages-of-faith-and-of-unbelief-are-always-said-to-mark-the-course-of/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [None so good that he has no faults, None so wicked that he is worth naught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/none-so-good-that-he-has-no-faults-none-so-wicked-that-he-is-worth/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [To be able to be caught up into the world of thought-that is educated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/to-be-able-to-be-caught-up-into-the-world-of-thought-that-is-educated/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [Convention, so often a mask for injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/convention-so-often-a-mask-for-injustice/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [Myths are early science, the result of men's first trying to explain what they saw around them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/myths-are-early-science-the-result-of-men-s-first-trying-to-explain/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [A people's literature is the great textbook for real knowledge of them. The writings of the day show the quality of the people as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/a-people-s-literature-is-the-great-textbook-for-real-knowledge-of/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [“He drew iron tears down Pluto's cheek and make Hell grant what Love did seek. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/he-drew-iron-tears-down-pluto-s-cheek-and-make-hell-grant-what-love/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [Mind and spirit together make up that which separates us from the rest of the animal world, that which enables a man to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/mind-and-spirit-together-make-up-that-which-separates-us-from-the/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [It has always seemed strange to me that in our endless discussions about education so little stress is laid on the pleasure of becoming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/it-has-always-seemed-strange-to-me-that-in-our-endless-discussions/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [When we speak of beauty, we're speaking of something we're more or less indifferent to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/when-we-speak-of-beauty-we-re-speaking-of-something-we-re-more-or/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [Love, however, cannot be forbidden. The more that flame is covered up, the hotter it burns. Also love can always find a way. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/love-however-cannot-be-forbidden-the-more-that-flame-is-covered-up/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [In theology the conservative temper tends to formalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/in-theology-the-conservative-temper-tends-to-formalism/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [The Old Testament is the record of men's conviction that God speaks directly to men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/the-old-testament-is-the-record-of-men-s-conviction-that-god-speaks/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) [Explore all 92 Edith Hamilton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) ## More Best gift quotes > [MOM,DAD YOU'RE THE BEST GIFT I EVER HAD.THERE'S NO ONE WILL BE LIKE YOU.THANKS GOD FOR THESE PRECIOUS GIFT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ottoe/mom-dad-you-re-the-best-gift-i-ever-had-there-s-no-one-will-be-like/) [Ottoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ottoe/) > [The best gift to our children will be safe and beautiful EARTH.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonam-arora-luthra/the-best-gift-to-our-children-will-be-safe-and-beautiful-earth/) [Sonam Arora Luthra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonam-arora-luthra/) > [“Your presence is the best gift of all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reuben-berger/your-presence-is-the-best-gift-of-all/) [Reuben Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reuben-berger/) > [Having the freedom to read and the freedom to choose is one of the best gifts my parents ever gave me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-blume/having-the-freedom-to-read-and-the-freedom-to-choose-is-one-of-the/) [Judy Blume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-blume/) > [A friend is the best gift we give to ourselves. Friends are those people in our life with whom we do not have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/a-friend-is-the-best-gift-we-give-to-ourselves-friends-are-those/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Coming from 'V' into 'Homeland' was a really big change and the best gift as an actor you can get - which is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morena-baccarin/coming-from-v-into-homeland-was-a-really-big-change-and-the-best-gift/) [Morena Baccarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morena-baccarin/) > [Sometimes, break ups and divorce is the best gift you can have in life. In the beginning it may seem like the world is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-rutledge-jr/sometimes-break-ups-and-divorce-is-the-best-gift-you-can-have-in-life/) [Merle Rutledge Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-rutledge-jr/) > [WINE, n.Fermented grape-juice known to the Women's Christian Union as "liquor," sometimes as "rum." Wine, madam, is God's next best gift to man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/wine-n-fermented-grape-juice-known-to-the-women-s-christian-union-as/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Amid the sufferings of life on earth, suicide is God's best gift to man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/amid-the-sufferings-of-life-on-earth-suicide-is-god-s-best-gift-to-man/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [“God takes everyone he loves through a desert. It is his cure for our wandering hearts, restlessly searching for a new Eden... The best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-e-miller/god-takes-everyone-he-loves-through-a-desert-it-is-his-cure-for-our/) [Paul E. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-e-miller/) > [My whole life has been about changing negatives into positives. 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Time is such an elusive thing that if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-schaeffer/there-is-something-about-saying-we-always-do-this-which-helps-keep/) [Edith Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-schaeffer/) [Browse all 263 Best gift quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-gift/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“They yoked themselves to a car and drew her all the long way through dust and heat. Everyone admired their filial piety when they arrived and the proud and happy mother standing before the statue prayed that Hera would reward them by giving them the best gift in her power. As she finished her prayer the two lads sank to the ground. They were smiling and they looked as if they were peacefully asleep but they were dead. 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