Agamemnon Quote by Plutarch
“Antagoras the poet was boiling a conger, and Antigonus, coming behind him as he was stirring his skillet, said, "Do you think, Antagoras, that Homer boiled congers when he wrote the deeds of Agamemnon?" Antagoras replied, "Do you think, O king, that Agamemnon, when he did such exploits, was a peeping in his army to see who boiled congers?”
About This Quote
Source Book: Parallel Lives, Antagoras anecdote, c. 100 AD
The anecdote mocks the absurdity of comparing mundane cooking to heroic deeds, highlighting how trivial details are often ignored in grand narratives.
In simple terms: Trivial tasks are overlooked in epic stories.
Key Takeaway
Don’t let minor details distract from larger goals.
Themes
humor
irony
history
Mood
playful
thoughtful
Type
anecdotal
historical
When to use this quote
- teaching storytelling
- literary analysis
- public speaking
- writing
- critical thinking
Key Concepts
classical literature
anecdote
Questions to Reflect On
- How does focusing on minutiae affect our perception of greatness?
- What can we learn about leadership from this exchange?
A Different Perspective
The comparison may obscure the true significance of both cooking and war.
