Book of Quotes

Mythology:Tales of Gods and Heroes

Mythology: Tales of Gods and Heroes by Edith Hamilton

- "Love cannot live where there is no trust."

- "Love, however, cannot be forbidden. The more that flame is covered up, the hotter it burns. Also love can always find a way. It was impossible that these two whose hearts were on fire should be kept apart. (Pyramus and Thisbe)"

- "The mind knows only what lies near the heart."

- "The power of good is shown not by triumphantly conquering evil, but by continuing to resist evil while facing certain defeat."

- "Love and the Soul (for that is what Psyche means) had sought and, after sore trials, found each other; and that union could never be broken. (Cupid and Psyche)"

- "None so good that he has no faults, None so wicked that he is worth naught."

- "...a chasm opened in the earth and out of it coal-black horses sprang, drawing a chariot and driven by one who had a look of dark splendor, majestic and beautiful and terrible. He caught her to him and held her close. The next moment she was being borne away from the radiance of earth in springtime to the world of the dead by the king who rules it."

- "He drew iron tears down Pluto's cheek and make Hell grant what Love did seek. "

- "Moderately wise each one should be,

Not overwise, for a wise man's heart

Is seldom glad (Norse Wisdom)"

- "Tell one your thoughts, but beware of two. All know what is known to three"

- "He was there beside her; yet she was far away from him, alone with her outraged love and her ruined life."

- "For all men serve him of their own free will. And he whom Love touches not walks in darkness."

- "One good thing, however, was there - Hope. It was the only good thing the casket had held among the many evils, and it remains to this day mankind's sole comfort in misfortune."

- "They yoked themselves to a car and drew her all the long way through dust and heat. Everyone admired their filial piety when they arrived and the proud and happy mother standing before the statue prayed that Hera would reward them by giving them the best gift in her power. As she finished her prayer the two lads sank to the ground. They were smiling and they looked as if they were peacefully asleep but they were dead. (Biton and Cleobis)"

- "Kiss me yet once again, the last, long kiss, Until I draw your soul within my lips And drink down all your love."

- "We hold there is no worse enemy to a state than he who keeps the law in his own hands."

- "He was softly breathing his life away, the dark blood flowing down his skin of snow and his eyes growing heavy and dim. She kissed him, but Adonis knew not that she kissed him as he died."

- "It is the men of this land who are bloodthirsty and they lay their own guilt on the gods."

- "Saint Paul said the invisible must be understood by the visible. That was not a Hebrew idea, it was Greek."

- "Far better die," she said. She took in her hand a casket which held herbs for killing, but as she sat there with it, she thought of life and the delightful things that are in the world; and the sun seemed sweeter than ever before."

- "I take courage," Aeneas said. "Here too there are tears for things, and hearts are touched by the fate of all that is mortal."

- "Proteus had."

- "She looked at him; she did not speak. He was there beside her, yet she was far away from him, alone with her outraged love and her ruined life. His feelings had nothing in them to make him silent."

- "She would have given her soul to him if he had asked her. And now both were fixing their eyes on the ground, abashed, and again were throwing glances at each other, smiling with love's desire."

- "Not because he had complete courage based on overwhelming strength, which is merely a matter of course, but because, by his sorrow for wrongdoing ad his willingness to do anything to expiate it, he showed greatness of soul."

- "When she came into Venus' presence the goddess laughed aloud and asked her scornfully if she was seeking a husband since the one she had had would have nothing to do with her because he had almost died of the burning wound she had given him."

- "The wise are doubtful,' Socrates returned, 'and I should not be singular if I too doubted."

- "They would allow no woman to be forced to marry against her will they told the newcomers, nor would they surrender any suppliant, no matter how feeble, and no matter how powerful the pursuer."