---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An example is Menelaus as depicted by…"
description: "\"“An example is Menelaus as depicted by Euripides. Drawing his sword, he moves toward Helen to slay her, but then, struck by the sight of her beauty, he..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/564/margaret-r-graver-78420_quote_an-example-is-menelaus-as-depicted-by-eu_1147292.jpg"
---

#  An example is Menelaus as depicted by Euripides. Drawing…

![“An example is Menelaus as depicted by Euripides. Drawing his sword, he moves toward Helen to slay her, but then, struck by the sight of her beauty, he casts away his sword and is no longer able to control even that. Hence this reproach is spoken to him: You, when you saw her breast, cast down your…” quote by Margaret R. Graver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/564/margaret-r-graver-78420_quote_an-example-is-menelaus-as-depicted-by-eu_1147292.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/564/margaret-r-graver-78420_quote_an-example-is-menelaus-as-depicted-by-eu_1147292.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/564/margaret-r-graver-78420_quote_an-example-is-menelaus-as-depicted-by-eu_1147292.jpg)

> ““An example is Menelaus as depicted by Euripides. Drawing his sword, he moves toward Helen to slay her, but then, struck by the sight of her beauty, he casts away his sword and is no longer able to control even that. Hence this reproach is spoken to him: You, when you saw her breast, cast down your blade and took her kiss, fondling the traitor dog.22””

[Margaret R. Graver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-r-graver/)

## About This Quote

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

A warrior is overwhelmed by desire, abandoning duty and losing self‑control when faced with beauty.

**In simple terms:** Desire can override reason.

Key Takeaway

Beware letting passion dictate actions.

Themes

desire duty self‑control war mythology

Mood

tragic reflective

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- romantic relationships
- military decisions
- personal temptation
- ethical dilemmas

Key Concepts

Greek tragedy human frailty

Questions to Reflect On

- Can desire ever be justified over duty?
- How do we balance emotion and responsibility?

A Different Perspective

Passion may lead to self‑destruction if unchecked.

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[Depicted Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depicted-euripides-3225254/) [Drawing Sword](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drawing-sword-991984/) [Euripides Drawing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/euripides-drawing-3225255/) [Example Menelaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example-menelaus-3225252/) [Menelaus Depicted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/menelaus-depicted-3225253/)

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## More Drawing Sword quotes

> [“In the words of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant: “There never was a time when, in my opinion, some way could not be found to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-g-moore/in-the-words-of-gen-ulysses-s-grant-there-never-was-a-time-when-in-my/)

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