21 Archilochus Quotes

Archilochus was a famous Greek lyric poet of the Archaic period

Archilocus was born into a famous family in Paros. Most of the works that have survived Archilochus from the Archaic period are in the form of testimony of other authors and inscriptions on monuments.

Archilocus was a lyric poet who is the earliest extant of the iambic hexameter in Greek poetry. In Ancient Greek, the existence of hexameters can be traced to Homer.

But Archilocus introduced it in other forms of poetry other than epics. Like other Greek poets, Archilocus too depended on Homer for style and language. Here are some famous quotes by the Greek poet Archilocus.

Archilocus Quotes from the Odyssey

(Discover some of the famous quotes from the Odyssey by the Greek poet Archilocus.)

Archilocus, in his times, wrote many things that belonged to the high art of Greece that is adored by people even now. Cherish some of the most memorable quotes of Archilocus from the epic tale of Odyssey.

"You whom the soldiers beat, you who are all but dead, how the gods love you, and I, alone in the dark, I was promised the light."

"Zeus, the father of the Olympic Gods, turned mid-day into night, hiding the light of the dazzling Sun; and sore fear came upon men."

"Take the joy and bear the sorrow, looking past your hopes and fears: learn to recognize the measured dance that orders all our years."

"Heart, my heart, so battered with misfortune far beyond your strength, up, and face the men who hate us. Bare your chest to the assault of the enemy, and fight them off. Stand fast among the beamlike spears."

"Give no ground; and if you beat them, do not brag in open show, nor, if they beat you, run home and lie down on your bed and cry. Keep some measure in the joy you take in luck, and the degree you give way to sorrow. All our life is up-and-down like this."

"I have saved myself—what care I for that shield? Away with it! I'll get another one no worse."

"Let the gods take care of everything. Many times they resurrect a man whom disaster left lying face down on the black earth. Many times they topple a man and pin him, back to the soil, though he was solid on his feet. A multitude of evils batters him as he wanders hungry and mad."

Best Archilochus Quotes

Quotes from the ancient Greek poet Archilochus inspire every modern warrior and even martial artists with their colloquial styles. The following is a collection of some of the top quotes of Archilochus that are very popular even today.

"Jealousy has no power over me, Nor do I envy a god his work, And I do not burn to rule. Such things have no Fascination for my eyes."

"Some Saian mountaineer Struts today with my shield. I threw it down by a bush and ran When the fighting got hot. Life seemed somehow more precious. It was a beautiful shield. I know where I can buy another Exactly like it, just as round."

"Nothing can be surprising any more or impossible or miraculous, now that Zeus, father of the Olympians has made night out of noonday, hiding the bright sunlight, and . . . fear has come upon mankind. After this, men can believe anything, expect anything."

"Keep some measure in the joy you take in luck, and the degree you give way to sorrow."

Best Quotes Of Greek Lyric Poet Archilocus

We bring you some fascinating quotes from the great lyric poet Archilochus. Explore them below.

"Let who will boast their courage in the field, I find but little safety from my shield, Nature's, not honor's law we must obey: This made me cast my useless shield away."

"Let the stone of Tantalos no longer overhang this island."

"All, O all the calamities of all the Hellenes are set loose on this battleground in Thasos."

"You have taken in many blind eels."

"The gold booty of Gyges means nothing to me. I don't envy that Lydian king, nor am I jealous
of what gods can do, nor of the tyrants' great powers. All these are realms beyond my vision."

Famous Archilochus Quotes

The pieces of Archilochus's work that have been preserved demonstrate that he was a metrical inventor of the highest caliber. Here is a glimpse of what this famous Greek poet has to offer.

"Soul, my soul, don't let them break you, all these troubles. Never yield: though their force is overwhelming, up! attack them shield to shield..."

"My lord Apollo, single out the guilty ones, and in your customary way, destroy them all."

"Say goodbye to the island Paros, farewell to its figs and the seafaring life."

"Let the gods take care of everything. Many times they resurrect a man whom disaster left lying face down on the black earth. Many times they topple a man and pin him, back to the soil, though he was solid on his feet. A multitude of evils batters him as he wanders hungry and mad."