--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Antagoras the poet was boiling a conger…" description: "\"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 bo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/plutarch-597_agamemnon_antagoras-the-poet-was-boiling-a-conger_3153382.jpg" --- # Antagoras the poet was boiling a conger, and Antigonus… ![“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…” quote by Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/plutarch-597_agamemnon_antagoras-the-poet-was-boiling-a-conger_3153382.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/plutarch-597_agamemnon_antagoras-the-poet-was-boiling-a-conger_3153382.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/plutarch-597_agamemnon_antagoras-the-poet-was-boiling-a-conger_3153382.jpg) > “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?” [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agamemnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agamemnon/) [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeds/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Stirring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stirring/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“But the Danaan princes and Agamemnon’s battalions, soon as they saw the man and his arms flashing amid the glom, trembled with mighty fear;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/but-the-danaan-princes-and-agamemnon-s-battalions-soon-as-they-saw/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [“There was precious little nobility in the features of the High King's fleshy face. Like his body, his face was broad and heavy, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bova/there-was-precious-little-nobility-in-the-features-of-the-high-king-s/) [Ben Bova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bova/) > [Many brave men lived before Agamemnon; but, all unwept and unknown, are lost in the distant night, since they are without a divine poet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/many-brave-men-lived-before-agamemnon-but-all-unwept-and-unknown-are/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [The nightingales are singing near The Convent of the Sacred Heart, And sang within the bloody wood When Agamemnon cried aloud, And let their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot/the-nightingales-are-singing-near-the-convent-of-the-sacred-heart-and/) [T. S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot/) > [The greatest horrors in the history of mankind are not due to the ambition of the Napoleons or the vengeance of the Agamemnons, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/the-greatest-horrors-in-the-history-of-mankind-are-not-due-to-the/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [Rage - Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus' son Achilles, murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses, hurling down to the House of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/rage-goddess-sing-the-rage-of-peleus-son-achilles-murderous-doomed/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“AGAMEMNON: Oh immovable law of heaven! Oh my anguish, my relentless fate! CLYTEMNESTRA: Yours? Mine. Hers. No relenting for any of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/agamemnon-oh-immovable-law-of-heaven-oh-my-anguish-my-relentless-fate/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [I have gazed on the face of Agamemnon,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-schliemann/i-have-gazed-on-the-face-of-agamemnon/) [Heinrich Schliemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-schliemann/) > [After so many years even the fire of passion dies, and with it what was believed the light of the truth. Who of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/after-so-many-years-even-the-fire-of-passion-dies-and-with-it-what/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [Many heroes lived before Agamemnon; but all are unknown and unwept, extinguished in everlasting night, because they have no spirited chronicler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/many-heroes-lived-before-agamemnon-but-all-are-unknown-and-unwept/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Herodotus is not more indisputably the father of history than is Sir Boyle Roche the father of Bulls. No doubt there were makers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyle-roche/herodotus-is-not-more-indisputably-the-father-of-history-than-is-sir/) [Boyle Roche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyle-roche/) > [“This consideration takes us very close to what it is that makes Greek tragedy “tragic.” A play about an unambiguously heroic young woman, someone’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mendelsohn/this-consideration-takes-us-very-close-to-what-it-is-that-makes-greek/) [Daniel Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mendelsohn/) > [When I heard the word ''stream'' uttered with such a revolting primness, what I think of is urine and not the contemporary novel. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/when-i-heard-the-word-stream-uttered-with-such-a-revolting-primness/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [Old men are always young enough to learn with profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/old-men-are-always-young-enough-to-learn-with-profit/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [“Rest in Peace?’ Why that phrase? That’s the most ridiculous phrase I’ve ever heard! You die, and they say ‘Rest in Peace!’ …Why would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/rest-in-peace-why-that-phrase-that-s-the-most-ridiculous-phrase-i-ve/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) ## More by Plutarch > [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [The generous mind adds dignity to every act, and nothing misbecomes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-generous-mind-adds-dignity-to-every-act-and-nothing-misbecomes-it/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Painting is silent poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/painting-is-silent-poetry/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [King Agis said, "The Lacedæmonians are not wont to ask how many, but where the enemy are."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/king-agis-said-the-laced-monians-are-not-wont-to-ask-how-many-but/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Alexander wept when he heard from Anaxarchus that there was an infinite number of worlds; and his friends asking him if any accident had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/alexander-wept-when-he-heard-from-anaxarchus-that-there-was-an/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Proper listening is the foundation of proper living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/proper-listening-is-the-foundation-of-proper-living/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/painting-is-silent-poetry-and-poetry-is-painting-that-speaks/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Speech is like cloth of Arras opened and put abroad, whereby the imagery doth appear in figure; whereas in thoughts they lie but as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/speech-is-like-cloth-of-arras-opened-and-put-abroad-whereby-the/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [There were two brothers called Both and Either; perceiving Either was a good, understanding, busy fellow, and Both a silly fellow and good for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/there-were-two-brothers-called-both-and-either-perceiving-either-was/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Why does pouring Oil on the Sea make it Clear and Calm? Is it that the winds, slipping the smooth oil, have no force,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/why-does-pouring-oil-on-the-sea-make-it-clear-and-calm-is-it-that-the/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [This excerpt is presented as reproduced by Copernicus in the preface to De Revolutionibus: "Some think that the earth remains at rest. But Philolaus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/this-excerpt-is-presented-as-reproduced-by-copernicus-in-the-preface/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [It is part of a good man to do great and noble deeds, though he risk everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/it-is-part-of-a-good-man-to-do-great-and-noble-deeds-though-he-risk/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [I am whatever was, or is, or will be; and my veil no mortal ever took up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/i-am-whatever-was-or-is-or-will-be-and-my-veil-no-mortal-ever-took-up/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [The pilot cannot mitigate the billows or calm the winds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-pilot-cannot-mitigate-the-billows-or-calm-the-winds/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [“In Springtime, O Dionysos, To thy holy temple come, To Elis with thy Graces, Rushing with thy bull-foot, come, Noble Bull, Noble Bull”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/in-springtime-o-dionysos-to-thy-holy-temple-come-to-elis-with-thy/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) [Explore all 451 Plutarch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) ## More Agamemnon quotes > [“But the Danaan princes and Agamemnon’s battalions, soon as they saw the man and his arms flashing amid the glom, trembled with mighty fear;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/but-the-danaan-princes-and-agamemnon-s-battalions-soon-as-they-saw/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [Old men are always young enough to learn with profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/old-men-are-always-young-enough-to-learn-with-profit/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [When I heard the word ''stream'' uttered with such a revolting primness, what I think of is urine and not the contemporary novel. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/when-i-heard-the-word-stream-uttered-with-such-a-revolting-primness/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“This consideration takes us very close to what it is that makes Greek tragedy “tragic.” A play about an unambiguously heroic young woman, someone’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mendelsohn/this-consideration-takes-us-very-close-to-what-it-is-that-makes-greek/) [Daniel Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mendelsohn/) > [Herodotus is not more indisputably the father of history than is Sir Boyle Roche the father of Bulls. No doubt there were makers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyle-roche/herodotus-is-not-more-indisputably-the-father-of-history-than-is-sir/) [Boyle Roche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyle-roche/) > [Many heroes lived before Agamemnon; but all are unknown and unwept, extinguished in everlasting night, because they have no spirited chronicler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/many-heroes-lived-before-agamemnon-but-all-are-unknown-and-unwept/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [After so many years even the fire of passion dies, and with it what was believed the light of the truth. Who of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/after-so-many-years-even-the-fire-of-passion-dies-and-with-it-what/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [I have gazed on the face of Agamemnon,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-schliemann/i-have-gazed-on-the-face-of-agamemnon/) [Heinrich Schliemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-schliemann/) > [“AGAMEMNON: Oh immovable law of heaven! Oh my anguish, my relentless fate! CLYTEMNESTRA: Yours? Mine. Hers. No relenting for any of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/agamemnon-oh-immovable-law-of-heaven-oh-my-anguish-my-relentless-fate/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Rage - Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus' son Achilles, murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses, hurling down to the House of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/rage-goddess-sing-the-rage-of-peleus-son-achilles-murderous-doomed/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [The greatest horrors in the history of mankind are not due to the ambition of the Napoleons or the vengeance of the Agamemnons, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/the-greatest-horrors-in-the-history-of-mankind-are-not-due-to-the/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [The nightingales are singing near The Convent of the Sacred Heart, And sang within the bloody wood When Agamemnon cried aloud, And let their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot/the-nightingales-are-singing-near-the-convent-of-the-sacred-heart-and/) [T. S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot/) > [Many brave men lived before Agamemnon; but, all unwept and unknown, are lost in the distant night, since they are without a divine poet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/many-brave-men-lived-before-agamemnon-but-all-unwept-and-unknown-are/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [“There was precious little nobility in the features of the High King's fleshy face. Like his body, his face was broad and heavy, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bova/there-was-precious-little-nobility-in-the-features-of-the-high-king-s/) [Ben Bova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bova/) > [“Rest in Peace?’ Why that phrase? That’s the most ridiculous phrase I’ve ever heard! You die, and they say ‘Rest in Peace!’ …Why would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/rest-in-peace-why-that-phrase-that-s-the-most-ridiculous-phrase-i-ve/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) [Browse all 24 Agamemnon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agamemnon/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Plutarch" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/antagoras-the-poet-was-boiling-a-conger-and-antigonus-coming-behind/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Agamemnon" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/antagoras-the-poet-was-boiling-a-conger-and-antigonus-coming-behind/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/plutarch-597_agamemnon_antagoras-the-poet-was-boiling-a-conger_3153382.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/plutarch-597_agamemnon_antagoras-the-poet-was-boiling-a-conger_3153382.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/plutarch-597_agamemnon_antagoras-the-poet-was-boiling-a-conger_3153382.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Antagoras the poet was boiling a conger, and Antigonus, coming behind him as he was stirring his skillet…” — Plutarch", "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": "Plutarch", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Antagoras the poet was boiling a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/antagoras-the-poet-was-boiling-a-conger-and-antigonus-coming-behind/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/antagoras-the-poet-was-boiling-a-conger-and-antigonus-coming-behind/#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 } } ] } ```