Aristófanes

The old are in a second childhood.

They teach to talk unjustly, and—prevail.

How about ‘Cloudcuckooland’?

Even if you persuade me, you won’t persuade me.

I am amazed that anyone who has made a fortune should send for his friends.

Who knows whether living is dying, and breathing Is eating, and sleeping is a wool blanket?

A savage-creating stubborn-pulling fellow, Uncurbed, unfettered, uncontrolled of speech, Unperiphrastic, bombastiloquent. 6

Brekekekex, ko-ax, ko-ax.

Shall I crack any of those old jokes, master, At which the audience never fail to laugh?

There’s nothing worse in the world than shameless woman—save some other woman.

There is no animal more invincible than a woman, nor fire either, nor any wildcat so ruthless.

These impossible women! How they do get around us! The poet was right: can’t live with them, or without them! 3

A woman’s time of opportunity is short, and if she doesn’t seize it, no one wants to marry her, and she sits watching for omens.

Halcyon days. 4

Mankind, fleet of life, like tree leaves, weak creatures of clay, unsubstantial as shadows, wingless, ephemeral, wretched, mortal and dreamlike.

Somewhere, what with all these clouds, and all this air, There must be a rare name, somewhere… How do you like “Cloud-Cuckoo-Land”? 3

Bringing owls to Athens.

Full of wiles, full of guile, at all times, in all ways, Are the children of Men. 3

This is what extremely grieves us, that a man who never fought Should contrive our fees to pilfer, one who for his native land Never to this day had oar, or lance, or blister in his hand.

[On the nightingale:] Lord Zeus, listen to the little bird’s voice; he has filled the whole thicket with honeyed song.

Old men are children for a second time.

Haven’t you sometimes seen a cloud that looked like a centaur? Or a leopard perhaps? Or a wolf? Or a bull? 2

To make the worse appear the better reason.

You have all the characteristics of a popular politician: a horrible voice, bad breeding, and a vulgar manner.

For then, in wrath, the Olympian Pericles Thundered and lightened, and confounded Hellas Enacting laws which ran like drinking songs. 1

When men drink, then they are rich and successful and win lawsuits and are happy and help their friends. Quickly, bring me a beaker of wine, so that I may wet my mind and say something clever.