Tuning the lyre and handling the harp are no accomplishments of mine, but rather taking in hand a city that was small and inglorious and making it glorious and great.

ὅτι λύραν μὲν ἁρμόσασθαι καὶ μεταχειρίσασθαι ψαλτήριον οὐκ ἐπίσταται, πόλιν δὲ μικρὰν καὶ ἄδοξον παραλαβὼν ἔνδοξον καὶ μεγάλην ἀπεργάσασθαι.

Themistocles

Quoted in Plutarch's Lives, by Plutarch

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More information about this quote

Topic

Political leadership Statecraft

Speaker

Themistocles

Author

Plutarch

Source

Plutarch's Lives

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

119 110s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Occupation

General Politician

From

Greece Europe Ancient Greece

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Themistocles. Quoted in "Themistocles." Parallel Lives by Plutarch. c. 2nd century BC, ch. 2, sect. 3.

Current Citation

Themistocles. Quoted in "Themistocles." Parallel Lives by Plutarch. Oxford University Press, 2009, ch. 2, sect. 3.

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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote by Plutarch

One more such victory over the Romans and we are lost.

Pyrrhus

Quoted in Plutarch's Lives, by Plutarch

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Topic
Pyrrhic victory Victory
Speaker
Pyrrhus

Author

Plutarch
Source
Plutarch's Lives
Genre
Biography
Statement Type
Paradox Prophecies and predictions
Language
Greek
Time
279 BC 270s BC 3rd century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Pyrrhus. Quoted in "Pyrrhus." Parallel Lives by Plutarch. c. 2nd century BC, ch. 21, sect. 9.

Current Citation

Pyrrhus. Quoted in "Pyrrhus." Parallel Lives by Plutarch. Oxford University Press, 2009, ch. 21, sect. 9.

Another quote from Classical antiquity

No guest is so welcome in a friend's house that he will not become a nuisance after three days.

Plautus

More information about this quote
Topic
Wearing out one's welcome Hospitality Guests and visitors
Speaker
Pleusicles

Author

Plautus
Source
Miles Gloriosus
Medium
Play
Language
Latin
Time
200 BC 200s BC 3rd century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Plautus. Miles Gloriosus. c. 206 BC, Rome, Italy, act 3, sc. 1.

Current Citation

Plautus. Miles Gloriosus, edited by Mason Hammond, Arthur W. Mack, and Walter Moskalew. Harvard University Press, 1997, act 3, sc. 1.

Another quote originally in Greek

Liars when they speak the truth are not believed.

Aristotle

Quoted in The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, by Diogenes Laërtius

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More information about this quote
Topic
Consequences of lying Liars Lying
Speaker
Aristotle

Author

Diogenes Laërtius
Source
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers
Genre
Historical literature
Language
Greek
Time
400 400s 3rd century
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Aristotle. Quoted in Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, written by Diogenes Laertius. c. 240 AD, bk. 5, ch. 1, sect. 17.

Current Citation

Aristotle. Quoted in The Lives of Eminent Philosophers, written by Diogenes Laërtius, translated by Pamela Mensch, edited by James Miller. Oxford University Press, 2018, bk. 5, ch. 1, sect. 17.