Inspirational Quotes by Aeschylus (Greek Playwright)

Aeschylus (c.525–c.456 BCE) was the earliest writer of Greek tragic drama whose works survive. He is regarded as the founder of Greek tragic drama. His seven extant plays from a known 80 titles include Prometheus Bound and the Oresteia trilogy.

Aeschylus contributed considerably to the methodological development of the dramatic form and the movement away from pure ritual to the theater as we know it. He did so by introducing the concept of two actors in dialogue and by limiting the role of the choral song.

Born in Eleusis, near Athens, he fought successfully against the Persians at Marathon in 490 BCE, at Salamis in 480 BCE, and possibly at Plataea in the following year. He made two or three to Sicily, where upon his final visit he died at Gela.

Aeschylus is best known for his trilogy, the Oresteia (458 BCE,) consisting of the tragedies Agamemnon, The Choephori, and The Eumenides.

Using themes from Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, the Oresteia tell the story of the fall of the House of Atreus in a series of retributive murders over three generations. Agamemnon, who has killed his daughter to ensure victory over the Trojans, returns home and is killed by his wife Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus. This is followed by the vengeance of their son Orestes.

The Oresteia have inspired some of the greatest artists and thinkers of the modern world—from Richard Wagner and Friedrich Nietzsche to T. S. Eliot and Simone de Beauvoir.

According to legend, Aeschylus was killed when an eagle dropped a turtle onto his bald head, taking it for a stone on which the shell could be broken. Aeschylus’s head was broken; this fulfilled an oracle’s prediction that Aeschylus would be struck dead by a force from the heavens.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Aeschylus

Time brings all things to pass.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Resilience, Patience

Obedience to truth known, is the king’s highway to that which is still beyond us.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Obedience

Every ruler is harsh whose laws is new.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Leaders, Leadership

Few men have the natural strength to honor a friend’s success without envy.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Success, Envy

Justice, voiceless, unseen, seeth thee when thou sleepest and when thou goest forth and when thou liest down. Continually doth she attend thee, now aslant thy course, now at a later time.
—Aeschylus

Happiness is a choice that requires effort at times.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Happiness

Obedience is the mother of success and is wedded to safety.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Safety, Obedience

In war, truth is the first casualty.
—Aeschylus
Topics: War

Time in its aging course teaches all things.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Time Management

There are times when fear is good. It must keep its watchful place at the heart’s controls.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Anxiety, Fear

Words are the physicians of a mind diseased.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Words

Time as he grows old teaches many lessons.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Time Management

He who goes unenvied shall not be admired.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Envy

Wisdom comes alone through suffering.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Suffering

The future you shall know when it has come; before then, forget it.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Future

Fortune is for all; judgment is theirs who have won it for themselves.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Fortune

When a man takes the road to destruction, the gods help him along.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Decisions

To the man who himself strives earnestly, God also lends a helping hand.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Prayer

There is no sickness worse for me than words that to be kind must lie.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Lies, Kindness, Words

Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering.
—Aeschylus

In our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Sleep, Suffering, Learn, Heart, Despair, God, Wisdom, Pain

Polished brass is the mirror of the body and wine of the mind.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Wine

When one is willing and eager, the Gods join in.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Will, Will Power, Willpower

Countless chuckles of the waves of the sea.
—Aeschylus

God lends a helping hand to the man who tries hard.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Trying, Helping

The man whose authority is recent is always stern.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Authority, Power, One liners

It is always in season for old men to learn.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Learning

I pray for no more youthTo perish before its prime;That Revenge and iron-heated WarMay fade with all that has gone beforeInto the night of time.
—Aeschylus

The sea is there—and who shall quench it?—nurturing the juices which yield much purple worth its weight in silver, wholly renewable, the dye of vestments; there is a remedy for these here with the gods’ help, my lord, from our reserve: the house does not know how to be poor.
—Aeschylus

It is easy when we are in prosperity to give advice to the afflicted.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Advice, Wealth

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Inspirational Quotes by Aeschylus (Greek Playwright)

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