Play by Euripides. It is in GB Volume 5. Newsletter post: https://www.readgreatbooks.info/p/great-books-ep-83-euripides-ion-in AI generated Podcast (New!): https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/c421b33a-c9c2-4d6f-9f53-45b1657a7e06/audio
Ion
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Highlights
- Atlas, who bears upon his brazen back the pressure of the sky, ancient dwelling of the gods, begat Maia from a daughter of one of those gods, and she bare me Hermes to mighty Zeus, to be the servant of the powers divine. (View Highlight)
- the Delphians made him treasurer of the god and steward of all his store, and found him true, and so until the present day he leads a holy life in the god’s temple. (View Highlight)
- in that land among the Erechthidae ‘tis a custom to protect their babes with charms of golden snakes. (View Highlight)
- What else remains shall be my care, for that child is mine, that thou mayst know it. (View Highlight)
- Is it really true that the temple of Phoebus stands upon the centre of the world ? Ion. Aye, there it stands with garlands decked (View Highlight)
- we must not prophesy against the god’s will, for it would be the height of folly in us, were we to try and make the gods against their will declare reluctant truths either by sacrifice of sheep at their altars, or by omens from birds. For those answers we strive to extort from heaven, lady, are goods that bring no blessing on our getting; but what they freely offer, thereby we profit. (View Highlight)
- Many are the chances that befall the many tribes of men, and diverse are their forms. But scarce one happy scene canst thou find in all the life of man. (View Highlight)
- no longer is it fair to call men wicked, if we are imitating the evil deeds of gods, but rather those who give us such examples. (View Highlight)
- Give me before the pomp of wealth or royal marriages the careful nurture of noble children. The childless life I do abhor, and him who thinks it good I blame; to a happy life amongst my children, blest with moderate wealth, may I hold fast. (View Highlight)
- for whosoever of mortal men transgresses, him the gods punish. How, then, can it be just that you should enact your laws for men, and yourselves incur the charge of breaking them ? (View Highlight)
- Thy name shall be Ion, in accordance with what happened, for that thou wert the first to cross my path (View Highlight)
- they who have the city’s ear, and have already made their mark, are most bitter against all rivals. (View Highlight)
- if I may make the prayer, Oh may that mother be a daughter of Athens! that from her I may inherit freedom of speech. (View Highlight)
- Rather would I live among the common folk, and taste their bliss, than be a tyrant who delights in making evil men his friends, and hates the good, in terror of his life. (View Highlight)
- Far rather would I have a virtuous friend of no great intellect than a knave of subtler wit. (View Highlight)
- for when two foes meet beneath one roof, one or the other must rue it (View Highlight)
- for good is no companion for evil. (View Highlight)
- men say stepdames are jealous of their husband’s children. (View Highlight)
- ‘Tis only right that he, whose house is sore beset with trouble, should reverence God and keep good heart; for at the last the righteous find their just reward, but the wicked, as their nature is, will never prosper. E (View Highlight)