--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The gods being always close to men…" description: "\"The gods being always close to men perceive those who afflict others with unjust devices and do not fear the wrath of heaven.\" — Hesiod" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b81/hesiod-2889_devices_the-gods-being-always-close-to-men-perce_922820.jpg" --- # The gods being always close to men perceive those who… ![“The gods being always close to men perceive those who afflict others with unjust devices and do not fear the wrath of heaven.” quote by Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b81/hesiod-2889_devices_the-gods-being-always-close-to-men-perce_922820.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b81/hesiod-2889_devices_the-gods-being-always-close-to-men-perce_922820.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b81/hesiod-2889_devices_the-gods-being-always-close-to-men-perce_922820.jpg) > “The gods being always close to men perceive those who afflict others with unjust devices and do not fear the wrath of heaven.” [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Divine forces punish those who harm others unjustly, fearing no heavenly retribution. **In simple terms:** Gods punish unjust harm. Key Takeaway Avoid causing unjust harm. Themes justice divine wrath ethics Mood reflective serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - Legal systems - personal conduct - social justice - conflict resolution Key Concepts Moral accountability cosmic order Questions to Reflect On - What actions are truly unjust? - How do we recognize divine justice? A Different Perspective Human law may not match divine expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Injustice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injustice/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Wrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrath/) ## Related quotes > [ But grant the wrath of Heaven be great, 'tis slow. \[Lat., Ut sit magna tamen certe lenta ira deorum est.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/but-grant-the-wrath-of-heaven-be-great-tis-slow-lat-ut-sit-magna/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [If Prometheus was worthy of the wrath of heaven for kindling the first fire upon earth, how ought all the gods honor the men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-godfrey-saxe/if-prometheus-was-worthy-of-the-wrath-of-heaven-for-kindling-the/) [John Godfrey Saxe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-godfrey-saxe/) > [Neither the wrath of Heaven nor the attacks of enemies are as fatal as Pleasure alone when she infects the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silius-italicus/neither-the-wrath-of-heaven-nor-the-attacks-of-enemies-are-as-fatal/) [Silius Italicus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silius-italicus/) > [Do you doubt that the least effects of nature were not used as marks of the wrath of heaven? It was to the interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-bayle/do-you-doubt-that-the-least-effects-of-nature-were-not-used-as-marks/) [Pierre Bayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bayle/) > [“ That's where all of us are standing now , he thought. On the fat kindling of past sins. And some of them are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-miller/that-s-where-all-of-us-are-standing-now-he-thought-on-the-fat/) Walter Miller > [Do not fear or misunderstand when the Government say they are looking to our defences. I give you my word that there will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-baldwin/do-not-fear-or-misunderstand-when-the-government-say-they-are-looking/) [Stanley Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-baldwin/) > [Roads taken far away from you are many. Do not fear, Mother; they all lead back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-levine/roads-taken-far-away-from-you-are-many-do-not-fear-mother-they-all/) [Adam Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-levine/) > [A man's usefulness depends on his living up to his ideals insofar as he can. It is hard to fail but it is worse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/a-man-s-usefulness-depends-on-his-living-up-to-his-ideals-insofar-as/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [“Do not fear your enemies. The worst they can do is kill you. Do not fear friends. At worst, they may betray you. Fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-fear-your-enemies-the-worst-they-can-do-is-kill-you-do-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/the-fear-of-the-lord-is-the-beginning-of-wisdom/) [Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon/) > [This, in my judgment, is the highest philosophy: First, do not regret having lost yesterday; second, do not fear that you will lose tomorrow;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/this-in-my-judgment-is-the-highest-philosophy-first-do-not-regret/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Death,' whispered Tarlar, 'you do not fear it, Fell? By water, or any other way?' 'What is to fear?" answered the black wolf. 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/death-whispered-tarlar-you-do-not-fear-it-fell-by-water-or-any-other/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [Perfect love casteth out fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/perfect-love-casteth-out-fear/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [Mount the stallion of love and do not fear the path, love’s stallion knows the way exactly. With one leap, Love’s horse will carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/mount-the-stallion-of-love-and-do-not-fear-the-path-love-s-stallion/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Firstly, do not fear hardship, and secondly, do not fear death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/firstly-do-not-fear-hardship-and-secondly-do-not-fear-death/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) ## More by Hesiod > [Gain not base gains; base gains are the same as losses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/gain-not-base-gains-base-gains-are-the-same-as-losses/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [Aegis-bearing Zeus has a design for each occasion, and mortals find this hard to comprehend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/aegis-bearing-zeus-has-a-design-for-each-occasion-and-mortals-find/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [The best is he who calls men to the best. And those who heed the call are also blessed. But worthless who call not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/the-best-is-he-who-calls-men-to-the-best-and-those-who-heed-the-call/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [If you speak evil, you will soon be worse spoken of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/if-you-speak-evil-you-will-soon-be-worse-spoken-of/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [Inhibition is no good provider for a needy man, Inhibition, which does men great harm and great good. Inhibition attaches to poverty, boldness to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/inhibition-is-no-good-provider-for-a-needy-man-inhibition-which-does/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [Potter is jealous of potter, and craftsman of craftsman; and the poor have a grudge against the poor, and the poet against the poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/potter-is-jealous-of-potter-and-craftsman-of-craftsman-and-the-poor/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [Preserve the mean; the opportune moment is best in all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/preserve-the-mean-the-opportune-moment-is-best-in-all-things/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [The potter is at enmity with the potter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/the-potter-is-at-enmity-with-the-potter/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [But he who neither thinks for himself nor learns from others, is a failure as a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/but-he-who-neither-thinks-for-himself-nor-learns-from-others-is-a/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [Justice prevails over transgression when she comes to the end of the race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/justice-prevails-over-transgression-when-she-comes-to-the-end-of-the/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [“It is best to work, at whatever you have a talent for doing, without turning your greedy thought toward what some other man possesses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/it-is-best-to-work-at-whatever-you-have-a-talent-for-doing-without/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on the frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/i-see-no-hope-for-the-future-of-our-people-if-they-are-dependent-on/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [Do not let a flattering woman coax and wheedle you and deceive you; she is after your barn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/do-not-let-a-flattering-woman-coax-and-wheedle-you-and-deceive-you/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [In the race for wealth, a neighbor tries to outdo his neighbor, but this strife is good for men. For the potter envies potter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/in-the-race-for-wealth-a-neighbor-tries-to-outdo-his-neighbor-but/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [The Gods rank work above virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/the-gods-rank-work-above-virtues/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) [Explore all 146 Hesiod quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) ## More Devices quotes > [The market may never coalesce around one basic design, or even around two or three dominant devices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/the-market-may-never-coalesce-around-one-basic-design-or-even-around/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Televisions are devices with screens that things appear on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/televisions-are-devices-with-screens-that-things-appear-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [If, as I anticipate, a wide array of personal, portable information/communication devices becomes increasingly important and widespread for information-intensive users, it will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/if-as-i-anticipate-a-wide-array-of-personal-portable-information/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [I would warn against holsters with devices for quick-draw. Devices always fail when you need them most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-powell/i-would-warn-against-holsters-with-devices-for-quick-draw-devices/) [William Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-powell/) > [As we go through this transition where a lot more people will be reading on devices, nobody is paying enough attention to make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/as-we-go-through-this-transition-where-a-lot-more-people-will-be/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [In early drafts, one of the trickiest things for me to do was to realize that the techniques and devices that make readable and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-rooney/in-early-drafts-one-of-the-trickiest-things-for-me-to-do-was-to/) [Kathleen Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-rooney/) > [We are beginning to see intimations of this in the implantation of computer devices into the human body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kurzweil/we-are-beginning-to-see-intimations-of-this-in-the-implantation-of/) [Ray Kurzweil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kurzweil/) > [Truth is, people like buying things for $0.99 and $1.99 for their digital devices. We know that from iTunes. We know that from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lee/truth-is-people-like-buying-things-for-0-99-and-1-99-for-their/) [Jennifer Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lee/) > [I think we're probably only about halfway through the number of revelations. I'm pretty certain there will be quite detailed stuff on other uses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-a-watson/i-think-we-re-probably-only-about-halfway-through-the-number-of/) [Tom A. Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-a-watson/) > [The documentary style is an incredibly flexible and useful one. It's a wonderful tool for establishing the credibility of the version of things that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gohlke/the-documentary-style-is-an-incredibly-flexible-and-useful-one-it-s-a/) [Frank Gohlke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gohlke/) > [The sense of tragedy - according to Aristotle - comes, ironically enough, not from the protagonist's weak points but from his good qualities. Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/the-sense-of-tragedy-according-to-aristotle-comes-ironically-enough/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [All the problems of the world could be settled easily if men were only willing to think. The trouble is that men very often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-watson/all-the-problems-of-the-world-could-be-settled-easily-if-men-were/) [Thomas J. Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-watson/) > [Prayer is not a convenient device for imposing our will upon God, or bending his will to ours, but the prescribed way of subordinating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/prayer-is-not-a-convenient-device-for-imposing-our-will-upon-god-or/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [The Hope, Love & Healing necklace is the perfect embodiment of what we are trying to bring to Haiti through safe and sustainable housing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/the-hope-love-healing-necklace-is-the-perfect-embodiment-of-what-we/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) > [Reading is sometimes an ingenious device for avoiding thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/reading-is-sometimes-an-ingenious-device-for-avoiding-thought/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) Browse all 1,075 Devices quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The gods being always close to men perceive those who afflict others with unjust devices and do not fear the wrath of heaven.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hesiod" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/the-gods-being-always-close-to-men-perceive-those-who-afflict-others/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Devices" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/the-gods-being-always-close-to-men-perceive-those-who-afflict-others/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b81/hesiod-2889_devices_the-gods-being-always-close-to-men-perce_922820.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b81/hesiod-2889_devices_the-gods-being-always-close-to-men-perce_922820.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b81/hesiod-2889_devices_the-gods-being-always-close-to-men-perce_922820.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The gods being always close to men perceive those who afflict others with unjust devices and do not fear the…” — Hesiod", "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": "Hesiod", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The gods being always close to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/the-gods-being-always-close-to-men-perceive-those-who-afflict-others/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/the-gods-being-always-close-to-men-perceive-those-who-afflict-others/#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 } } ] } ```