Call no man happy before he dies. Herodotus More Quotes by Herodotus More Quotes From Herodotus The Scythians take kannabis seed, creep in under the felts, and throw it on the red-hot stones. It smolders and sends up such billows of steam-smoke that no Greek vapor bath can surpass it. The Scythians howl with joy in these vapor-baths, which serve them instead of bathing, for they never wash their bodies with water. Herodotus greek joy water the Egyptians were the first to discover the solar year, and to portion out its course into twelve parts both the space of time and the seasons which they delimit. It was observation of the course of the stars which led them to adopt this divisionIt is also the Egyptians who first bought into use the names of the twelve gods, which the Greeks adopted from them Herodotus stars names years As the old saw says well: every end does not appear together with its beginning. It's impossible for someone who is human to have all good things together, just as there is no single country able to provide all good things for itself. Herodotus saws together country Egypt is the gift of the Nile. Herodotus nile egypt Mens fortunes are on a wheel, which in its turning suffers not the same man to prosper for ever. Herodotus wheels suffering men These 'messengers' will not be hindered from accomplishing at their best speed the distance which they have to go, either by snow, or rain, or heat, or by the darkness of night. Herodotus distance rain night A real friend ... exults in his friends happiness, rejoices in all his joys, and is ready to afford him the best advice. Herodotus real joy friendship The king's might is greater than human, and his arm is very long. Herodotus arms kings long Where even a falsehood must be told, let it be told. Herodotus falsehood lying Not snow, no, nor rain, nor heat, nor night keeps them from accomplishing their appointed courses with all speed. Herodotus rain snow night The ears of men are lesser agents of belief than their eyes. Herodotus eye men believe He is the best man who, when making his plans, fears and reflects on everything that can happen to him, but in the moment of action is bold. Herodotus planning action men Love of honor is a very shady sort of possession. Herodotus shady possession honor There is nothing more foolish, nothing more given to outrage than a useless mob. Herodotus outrage useless foolish Tell Greece that her spring has been taken out of her year. Herodotus taken spring years But I like not these great successes of yours; for I know how jealous are the gods. Herodotus great-success jealous god We have two useless gods who never leave our island, but like to dwell in it constantly, Poverty and Helplessness. Herodotus useless islands two For of those [cities] that were great in earlier times, most of them have now become small, while those which were great in my time were small formerly. Herodotus change cities time But if you know that you are a man too, and that even such are those that rule, learn this first of all: that all human affairs are a wheel which, as it turns, does not allow the same men always to be fortunate. Herodotus change doe men My men have become women, but the women men. Herodotus women courage men
