---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mankind . . . possesses two supreme…"
description: "\"Mankind . . . possesses two supreme blessings. First of these is the goddess Demeter, or Earth whichever name you choose to call her by. It was she who..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/376/euripides-472_blessing_mankind-possesses-two-supreme-blessings_1342897.png"
---

#  Mankind . . . possesses two supreme blessings. First of…

![“Mankind . . . possesses two supreme blessings. First of these is the goddess Demeter, or Earth whichever name you choose to call her by. It was she who gave to man his nourishment of grain. But after her there came the son of Semele, who matched her present by inventing liquid wine as his gift to…” quote by Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/376/euripides-472_blessing_mankind-possesses-two-supreme-blessings_1342897.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/376/euripides-472_blessing_mankind-possesses-two-supreme-blessings_1342897.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/376/euripides-472_blessing_mankind-possesses-two-supreme-blessings_1342897.png)

> “Mankind . . . possesses two supreme blessings. First of these is the goddess Demeter, or Earth whichever name you choose to call her by. It was she who gave to man his nourishment of grain. But after her there came the son of Semele, who matched her present by inventing liquid wine as his gift to man. For filled with that good gift, suffering mankind forgets its grief; from it comes sleep; with it oblivion of the troubles of the day. There is no other medicine for misery.”

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Humanity receives essential gifts: earth's grain and wine, which soothe sorrow and provide escape.

**In simple terms:** Earth and wine ease human suffering.

Key Takeaway

Appreciate nature's gifts.

Themes

my relief ritual balance

Mood

reflective thoughtful

Type

mythic philosophical

When to use this quote

- daily life
- celebrations
- stress relief

Key Concepts

agricultural sustenance alcoholic escape mythology

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance pleasure and responsibility?
- What alternatives soothe sorrow without excess?

A Different Perspective

Wine can mask problems, not solve them.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Blessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessing/) [Blessings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessings/) [Demeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demeter/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [French wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/french-wine/) [Goddess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goddess/) [Grain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grain/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Inventing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inventing/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Misery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misery/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Nourishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nourishment/) [Oblivion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oblivion/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Vineyards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vineyards/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) [You choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you-choose/)

## Related quotes

> [The inner fire is the most important thing mankind possesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-s-dergran/the-inner-fire-is-the-most-important-thing-mankind-possesses/)

[Edith Södergran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-s-dergran/)

> [Wine makes every meal an occasion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-simon/wine-makes-every-meal-an-occasion/)

[Andre Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-simon/)

> [We hear of the conversion of water into wine at the marriage in Cana as of a miracle. But this conversion is, through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/we-hear-of-the-conversion-of-water-into-wine-at-the-marriage-in-cana/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [We thought of wine as something as healthy and normal as food and also as a great giver of happiness and well being and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/we-thought-of-wine-as-something-as-healthy-and-normal-as-food-and/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [Wine rejoices the heart of man and joy is the mother of all virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/wine-rejoices-the-heart-of-man-and-joy-is-the-mother-of-all-virtues/)

[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

> [Life's too short to drink bad wine or smoke poor cigars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-johnson/life-s-too-short-to-drink-bad-wine-or-smoke-poor-cigars/)

[Don Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-johnson/)

> [Wine ... offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation than possibly any other purely sensory thing which may be purchased.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-offers-a-greater-range-for-enjoyment-and-appreciation-than/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [Wine is inspiring and adds greatly to the joy of living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/wine-is-inspiring-and-adds-greatly-to-the-joy-of-living/)

[Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/)

> [Life is too short to drink bad wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/life-is-too-short-to-drink-bad-wine/)

[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

> [The wine urges me on, the bewitching wine, which sets even a wise man to singing and to laughing gently and rouses him up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-wine-urges-me-on-the-bewitching-wine-which-sets-even-a-wise-man/)

[Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/)

> [Wine is a living liquid containing no preservatives. Its life cycle comprises youth, maturity, old age, and death. When not treated with reasonable respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-child/wine-is-a-living-liquid-containing-no-preservatives-its-life-cycle/)

[Julia Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-child/)

> [He who loves not women, wine, and song Remains a fool his whole life long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-who-loves-not-women-wine-and-song-remains-a-fool-his-whole-life/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [A man will be eloquent if you give him good wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-will-be-eloquent-if-you-give-him-good-wine/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [My only regret in life is that I did not drink more wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/my-only-regret-in-life-is-that-i-did-not-drink-more-wine/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards; there it enters the roots of the vines, to be changed into wine; a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/behold-the-rain-which-descends-from-heaven-upon-our-vineyards-there/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

## More by Euripides

> [“Oh where is the noble face of modesty, or the strength of virtue, now that blasphemy is in power and men have put justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/oh-where-is-the-noble-face-of-modesty-or-the-strength-of-virtue-now/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [A second wife is hateful to the children of the first; a viper is not more hateful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/a-second-wife-is-hateful-to-the-children-of-the-first-a-viper-is-not/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [Old age is not a total misery. Experience helps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/old-age-is-not-a-total-misery-experience-helps/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [“What greater sorrow than being forced to leave behind my native earth?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/what-greater-sorrow-than-being-forced-to-leave-behind-my-native-earth/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [Pay special attention to their agony so I might take some pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/pay-special-attention-to-their-agony-so-i-might-take-some-pleasure/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [“You don't know what your life is, nor what you're doing, nor who you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/you-don-t-know-what-your-life-is-nor-what-you-re-doing-nor-who-you-are/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [But woe to him, who left to moan, Reviews the hours of brightness gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/but-woe-to-him-who-left-to-moan-reviews-the-hours-of-brightness-gone/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [Who then will dare to say I'm weak or timid? No, they'll say I'm loyal as a friend, ruthless as a foe, so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/who-then-will-dare-to-say-i-m-weak-or-timid-no-they-ll-say-i-m-loyal/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [“Dreams of the proud man, making great And greater ever, Things which are not of God. In wide And devious coverts, hunter-wise, He coucheth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/dreams-of-the-proud-man-making-great-and-greater-ever-things-which/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [There is desire in those who love to hear about their loved ones' pains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/there-is-desire-in-those-who-love-to-hear-about-their-loved-ones-pains/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [Soon all of you immortals Will be as dead as we are! Come on then, what are you waiting for? Have you run out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/soon-all-of-you-immortals-will-be-as-dead-as-we-are-come-on-then-what/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [There is the sky, which is all men's together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/there-is-the-sky-which-is-all-men-s-together/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [Youth holds no society with grief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/youth-holds-no-society-with-grief/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [Leave no stone unturned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/leave-no-stone-unturned/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [The man who glories in his luck may be overthrown by destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/the-man-who-glories-in-his-luck-may-be-overthrown-by-destiny/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

[Explore all 532 Euripides quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

## More Blessing quotes

> [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/)

[Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/)

> [God loves to glorify himself by suspending his gifts and blessings on our asking him for them. We should never presume to receive from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/god-loves-to-glorify-himself-by-suspending-his-gifts-and-blessings-on/)

[Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/)

> [When Allah puts barakah (His blessings) in something, it will come beyond your expectations- never underestimate the power of one good deed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/when-allah-puts-barakah-his-blessings-in-something-it-will-come/)

[Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/)

> [Life is all about experiences and being able to work with good people is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhumika-chawla/life-is-all-about-experiences-and-being-able-to-work-with-good-people/)

[Bhumika Chawla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhumika-chawla/)

> [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/)

[Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/)

> [“When Jesus finished teaching in a synagogue one day, a woman called out from the audience, 'God bless your mother—the womb from which you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bessey/when-jesus-finished-teaching-in-a-synagogue-one-day-a-woman-called/)

[Sarah Bessey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bessey/)

> [“I've never felt a pain that didn't bear a blessing. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-knudsen-hoffman/i-ve-never-felt-a-pain-that-didn-t-bear-a-blessing/)

Gene Knudsen Hoffman

> [Mechanical instruments, potentially a vehicle of rational human purposes, are scarcely a blessing when they enable the gossip of the village idiot and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/mechanical-instruments-potentially-a-vehicle-of-rational-human/)

[Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/)

> [One of the noblest words in our language is "grace," defined as "unearned blessing." We live by grace far more than by anything else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/one-of-the-noblest-words-in-our-language-is-grace-defined-as-unearned/)

[D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/)

> [The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy. Others attain unto a glory and may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/the-only-men-who-become-gods-even-the-sons-of-god-are-those-who-enter/)

[Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/)

> [Being of Indian heritage is a challenge - and it's a blessing as well sometimes - because being good isn't good enough. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sacha-dhawan/being-of-indian-heritage-is-a-challenge-and-it-s-a-blessing-as-well/)

[Sacha Dhawan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sacha-dhawan/)

> [“Time wasted can never be compensated”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/time-wasted-can-never-be-compensated/)

[Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/)

> [The Louvre! The Louvre has me in its clutches. Every time I'm there rich blessings rain down upon me. I am coming to understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-modersohn-becker/the-louvre-the-louvre-has-me-in-its-clutches-every-time-i-m-there/)

[Paula Modersohn-Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-modersohn-becker/)

> [Life is such a very troublesome matter, when all is said and done, that it's as well even to take its blessings quietly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-braddon/life-is-such-a-very-troublesome-matter-when-all-is-said-and-done-that/)

[Mary Elizabeth Braddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-braddon/)

> [Down where I grew up, able-bodied people do that which we believe God created them to do. Work is a blessing; it's not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-southerland/down-where-i-grew-up-able-bodied-people-do-that-which-we-believe-god/)

[Steve Southerland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-southerland/)

[Browse all 4,617 Blessing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessing/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Mankind . . . possesses two supreme blessings. First of these is the goddess Demeter, or Earth whichever name you choose to call her by. It was she who gave to man his nourishment of grain. But after her there came the son of Semele, who matched her present by inventing liquid wine as his gift to man. For filled with that good gift, suffering mankind forgets its grief; from it comes sleep; with it oblivion of the troubles of the day. There is no other medicine for misery.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Euripides"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/mankind-possesses-two-supreme-blessings-first-of-these-is-the-goddess/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Blessing"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/mankind-possesses-two-supreme-blessings-first-of-these-is-the-goddess/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/376/euripides-472_blessing_mankind-possesses-two-supreme-blessings_1342897.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/376/euripides-472_blessing_mankind-possesses-two-supreme-blessings_1342897.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/376/euripides-472_blessing_mankind-possesses-two-supreme-blessings_1342897.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Mankind . . . possesses two supreme blessings. First of these is the goddess Demeter, or Earth whichever…” — Euripides",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Euripides",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Mankind . . . possesses two...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/mankind-possesses-two-supreme-blessings-first-of-these-is-the-goddess/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/mankind-possesses-two-supreme-blessings-first-of-these-is-the-goddess/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
