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.
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
When one is willing and eager, the Gods join in.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Will, Willpower, Will Power
It is easy when we are in prosperity to give advice to the afflicted.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Wealth, Advice
Every ruler is harsh whose laws is new.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Leadership, Leaders
God loves to help him who strives to help himself.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Independence, Self-reliance
It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Man, Character, Promises
Who, except the gods, can live time through forever without any pain?
—Aeschylus
Topics: Pain
Bronze is a mirror of the face, wine of the mind.
—Aeschylus
When a man’s willing and eager the god’s join in.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Willpower, Will Power, Will
Who except the gods can live without any pain?
—Aeschylus
Topics: Acceptance
Bronze in the mirror of the form, wine of the mind.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Wine, One liners
His resolve is not to seem, but to be, the best.
—Aeschylus
The misfortunes of mankind are of varied plumage.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Adversity
Time brings all things to pass.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Patience, Resilience
There is no sickness worse for me than words that to be kind must lie.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Words, Lies, Kindness
To the man who himself strives earnestly, God also lends a helping hand.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Prayer
Memory is the mother of all wisdom.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Wisdom, Memories, Memory
Countless chuckles of the waves of the sea.
—Aeschylus
I gave them hope, and so turned away their eyes from death.
—Aeschylus
Death is softer by far than tyranny.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Tyranny
Time in its aging course teaches all things.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Time Management
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
Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering.
—Aeschylus
I count false words the foulest plague of all.
—Aeschylus
There’s nothing certain in a man’s life except this: That he must lose it.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Death, Uncertainty, Doubt, Certainty
To be free from evil thoughts is God’s best gift.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Evils
Obedience to truth known, is the king’s highway to that which is still beyond us.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Obedience
For there is no defense for a man who, in the excess of his wealth, has kicked the great altar of Justice out of sight.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Defense
Justice shines in smoky cottages, and honors the pious. Leaving with averted eyes the gorgeous glare obtained by polluted hands, she is wont to draw nigh to holiness, not reverencing wealth when falsely stamped with praise, and assigning to each deed its righteous doom.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Justice
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
Words are the physicians of a mind diseased
—Aeschylus
Topics: Words
Everyone’s quick to blame the alien.
—Aeschylus
In every tyrant’s heart there springs in the end this poison, that he cannot trust a friend.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Tyranny
Happiness is a choice that requires effort at times.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Happiness
Fear is stronger than arms.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Fear, Anxiety
The future you shall know when it has come; before then, forget it.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Future
Delay not to seize the hour.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Getting Going, Inaction, Procrastination
When a man takes the road to destruction, the gods help him along.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Decisions
Few men have the natural strength to honor a friend’s success without envy.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Envy, Success
Words are healers of the sick tempered.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Words
Obedience is the mother of success and is wedded to safety.
—Aeschylus
Topics: Obedience, Safety
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