--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Homer and Hesiod attributed to the gods…" description: "\"Homer and Hesiod attributed to the gods all things which are disreputable and worthy of blame when done by men; and they told of them many lawless deed..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea5/xenophanes-16062_adultery_homer-and-hesiod-attributed-to-the-gods_138924.jpg" --- # Homer and Hesiod attributed to the gods all things which… ![“Homer and Hesiod attributed to the gods all things which are disreputable and worthy of blame when done by men; and they told of them many lawless deeds, stealing, adultery, and deception of each other.” quote by Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea5/xenophanes-16062_adultery_homer-and-hesiod-attributed-to-the-gods_138924.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea5/xenophanes-16062_adultery_homer-and-hesiod-attributed-to-the-gods_138924.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea5/xenophanes-16062_adultery_homer-and-hesiod-attributed-to-the-gods_138924.jpg) > “Homer and Hesiod attributed to the gods all things which are disreputable and worthy of blame when done by men; and they told of them many lawless deeds, stealing, adultery, and deception of each other.” [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ancient myths blamed gods for immoral deeds, reflecting human tendency to externalize blame for wrongdoing. **In simple terms:** People blame gods for bad acts. Key Takeaway Take responsibility for actions. Themes mythology morality blame Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - ethical reflection - cultural analysis - personal accountability Key Concepts ancient religion human nature Questions to Reflect On - Why do we externalize blame? - How does this affect moral growth? A Different Perspective Gods were often scapegoats. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adultery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adultery/) [Deception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deception/) [Deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeds/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [There is no real agreement among scholars as to whether Homer and Hesiod were contemporaries or whether Homer came a hundred or so years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/there-is-no-real-agreement-among-scholars-as-to-whether-homer-and/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [“Once, in his first term, Cartwright had been bold enough to ask him why he was clever, what exercises he did to keep his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/once-in-his-first-term-cartwright-had-been-bold-enough-to-ask-him-why/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [“The men and women of the Golden Age, Hesiod wrote, lived in an eternal spring, for hundreds of years, always youthful, fed on acorns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-byatt/the-men-and-women-of-the-golden-age-hesiod-wrote-lived-in-an-eternal/) [A.S. Byatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-byatt/) > [“In pointing out this parallel, I do not suggest that Hesiod is somehow the Greek equivalent of Moses or that his Theogony is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-markos/in-pointing-out-this-parallel-i-do-not-suggest-that-hesiod-is-somehow/) [Louis Markos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-markos/) > [Hesiod might as well have kept his breath to cool his pottage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/hesiod-might-as-well-have-kept-his-breath-to-cool-his-pottage/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Many who have learned from Hesiod the countless names of gods and monsters never understand that night and day are one](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/many-who-have-learned-from-hesiod-the-countless-names-of-gods-and/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [All men begin their learning with Homer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/all-men-begin-their-learning-with-homer/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [The Iliad is the private lives of people thrown into disorder by history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-queneau/the-iliad-is-the-private-lives-of-people-thrown-into-disorder-by/) [Raymond Queneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-queneau/) > ['The Odyssey' is a great poem to refugee-dom... Odysseus is not entirely a refugee... he's somebody who's blown off course. The entire book is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-osborne/the-odyssey-is-a-great-poem-to-refugee-dom-odysseus-is-not-entirely-a/) [Lawrence Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-osborne/) > [The Iliad is only great because all life is a battle, The Odyssey because all life is a journey, The Book of Job because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-iliad-is-only-great-because-all-life-is-a-battle-the-odyssey/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've seen few things more depressing than the end-of-season Giants-Padres series in 2001 in which Barry Bonds hit his 68th homer of the year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rodrick/i-ve-seen-few-things-more-depressing-than-the-end-of-season-giants/) [Stephen Rodrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rodrick/) > [Homer, Hesiod, Pythagoras, Plato, and Cicero, just to name a few, all lived in pagan societies. Some of the greatest political and military leaders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/homer-hesiod-pythagoras-plato-and-cicero-just-to-name-a-few-all-lived/) [Brendan Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/) > [“Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story of that man skilled in all ways of contending, the wanderer, harried for years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/sing-in-me-muse-and-through-me-tell-the-story-of-that-man-skilled-in/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“we're looking for a planeet on the strength of a song. it's crazy I know, but its the only chance we have to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-kagan/we-re-looking-for-a-planeet-on-the-strength-of-a-song-it-s-crazy-i/) [Janet Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-kagan/) > [It is true that from a behavioral economics perspective we are fallible, easily confused, not that smart, and often irrational. We are more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/it-is-true-that-from-a-behavioral-economics-perspective-we-are/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) ## More by Xenophanes > [...for our wisdom is better than the strength of men or of horses. ... nor is it right to prefer strength to excellent wisdom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/for-our-wisdom-is-better-than-the-strength-of-men-or-of-horses-nor-is/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [If oxen and lions had hands and could paint with their hands and produce works of art, as men do, horses would paint the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/if-oxen-and-lions-had-hands-and-could-paint-with-their-hands-and/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [For we are all sprung from earth and water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/for-we-are-all-sprung-from-earth-and-water/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [The sun comes into being each day from little pieces of fire that are collected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/the-sun-comes-into-being-each-day-from-little-pieces-of-fire-that-are/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [No human being will ever know the Truth, for even if they happen to say it by chance, they would not even known they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/no-human-being-will-ever-know-the-truth-for-even-if-they-happen-to/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [If cows and horses had hands and could draw, cows would draw gods that look like cows and horses would draw gods that look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/if-cows-and-horses-had-hands-and-could-draw-cows-would-draw-gods-that/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [There is one god, greatest among gods and men, who bears no similarity to humans either in shape or thought... but humans believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/there-is-one-god-greatest-among-gods-and-men-who-bears-no-similarity/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [In the beginning the gods did not at all reveal all things clearly to mortals, but by searching men in the course of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/in-the-beginning-the-gods-did-not-at-all-reveal-all-things-clearly-to/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [Men always makes gods in their own image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/men-always-makes-gods-in-their-own-image/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [But if cattle and horses or lions had hands, or were able to draw with their hands and do the work that men can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/but-if-cattle-and-horses-or-lions-had-hands-or-were-able-to-draw-with/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [Truly the gods have not from the beginning revealed all things to mortals, but by long seeking, mortals discover what is better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/truly-the-gods-have-not-from-the-beginning-revealed-all-things-to/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [“The Ethiops say that their gods are flat-nosed and black, While the Thracians say that theirs have blue eyes and red hair. Yet if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/the-ethiops-say-that-their-gods-are-flat-nosed-and-black-while-the/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [All men begin their learning with Homer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/all-men-begin-their-learning-with-homer/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [ But without effort \[God\] sets in motion all things by mind and thought. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/but-without-effort-god-sets-in-motion-all-things-by-mind-and-thought/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [God is one, greatest of gods and men, not like mortals in body or thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/god-is-one-greatest-of-gods-and-men-not-like-mortals-in-body-or/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) [Explore all 41 Xenophanes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) ## More Adultery quotes > [A hundred years ago Hester Prynne of The Scarlet Letter was given an A for adultery; today she would rate no better than a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-de-vries/a-hundred-years-ago-hester-prynne-of-the-scarlet-letter-was-given-an/) [Peter De Vries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-de-vries/) > [“Reality has a way of bursting the bubble of illusion, and an affair is one of the biggest illusions that anyone can experience in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/reality-has-a-way-of-bursting-the-bubble-of-illusion-and-an-affair-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Once a cheater always remain's a cheater, if you love your partner, why cheat? That dosent makes any sense, that can tell that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittannia-calder/once-a-cheater-always-remain-s-a-cheater-if-you-love-your-partner-why/) [Brittannia Calder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittannia-calder/) > [Marriage is honourable, as you say; and if so, wherefore should Cuckoldom be a Discredit, being deriv'd from so honourable a Root?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/marriage-is-honourable-as-you-say-and-if-so-wherefore-should/) [William Congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/) > [L'adulte' re introduit l'esprit dans la lettre quebien souvent le mariage e u" t laisse e morte. Adultery breathes new life into marriages which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/l-adulte-re-introduit-l-esprit-dans-la-lettre-quebien-souvent-le/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [“I shan't make a fuss over the babe's father.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/i-shan-t-make-a-fuss-over-the-babe-s-father/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [When adultery walks in, everything worth having walks out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-m-kroll/when-adultery-walks-in-everything-worth-having-walks-out/) [Woodrow M. Kroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-m-kroll/) > [Splendid couple - slept with both of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-bowra/splendid-couple-slept-with-both-of-them/) Maurice Bowra > [“I was thinking of murder, mutilation and dessert like Ignacia Sandoval’s instructions for delectable empanadas made of minced mother-in-law’s tongue (said to induce peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-ramos-o-briant/i-was-thinking-of-murder-mutilation-and-dessert-like-ignacia-sandoval/) Sandra Ramos O'Briant > [Adultery is an image of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/adultery-is-an-image-of-hell/) [Emanuel Swedenborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-swedenborg/) > [Adolescence: A stage between infancy and adultery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/adolescence-a-stage-between-infancy-and-adultery/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Sin aims always at the utmost; every time it rises up to tempt or entice, if it has its own way it will go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/sin-aims-always-at-the-utmost-every-time-it-rises-up-to-tempt-or/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [“Next to Joel on the beach was Martha. 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