Homer Quotes

Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns - Odyssey quote

Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns
driven time and again off course, once he had plundered
the hallowed heights of Troy.
Many cities of men he saw and learned their minds,
many pains he suffered, heartsick on the open sea,
fighting to save his life and bring his comrades home.
But he could not save them from disaster, hard as he strove –
the recklessness of their own ways destroyed them all,
the blind fools, they devoured the cattle of the Sun
and the Sungod blotted out the day of their return.
Launch out on his story, Muse, daughter of Zeus,
start from where you will – sing for our time too.

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 1, lines 1-12. These are the opening words to Homer’s masterpiece, The Odyssey, one of the most important and enduring works of Western literature. We get a brief synopsis of the story of the epic poem. It chronicles the long journey home of Odysseus, after his time spent fighting in the Trojan War. There is much foreshadowing in the passage. We learn that Odysseus is driven off course many times on his perilous voyage home. He also tries to bring home his comrades, but fails. They are killed by the god Helios for their reckless action in consuming his cattle. At the beginning of the poem the narrator invokes the Muse – the Muses were ancient Greece’s goddesses of literature, science and the arts. The poet asks the Muse for inspiration to learn about the "man of twists and turns" and his arduous journey home. Written in the late 8th or 9th century BC, The Odyssey remains one of the all-time greatest quest stories.

"Ah how shameless – the way these mortals blame the gods.
From us alone, they say, come all their miseries, yes,
but they themselves, with their own reckless ways,
compound their pains beyond their proper share."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 1, lines 37-40. Zeus is at an assembly of the gods on Olympus, considering the lives of Odysseus and his son Telemachus and whether to intervene in Odysseus’ troubles. Commenting on the relationship between gods and humans, he recalls the case of Aegisthus. He ignored a warning by the messenger of the gods Hermes, seduced Agamemnon’s wife Clytemnestra and then with her help murdered Agamemnon. Zeus is saying that humans tend to blame the gods for their miseries, but humans are at fault by making their own lives a misery through reckless behavior. In other words bad happens to those who deserve it.

"All men need the gods…
but the man is younger, just about my age.
That’s why I give the gold cup first to you."
With that
Pisistratus placed in her hand the cup of mellow wine
and Pallas rejoiced at the prince’s sense of tact
in giving the golden winecup first to her.

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 3, lines 55-57. Pisistratus asks Athena – disguised as Mentor – to say a prayer to Poseidon, since it is the god’s feast day in Pylos. There is a certain irony in asking her to pray to Poseidon, who is punishing Odysseus. For Athena is Odysseus’ patron goddess and is working against Poseidon.

"Just think of all the hospitality we enjoyed
at the hands of other men before we made it home,
and god save us from such hard treks in years to come.
Quick, unhitch their team. And bring them in,
strangers, guests, to share our flowing feast."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 4, lines 39-42. Menelaus provides an insight into the highly valued ancient Greek practice of xenia: the law of offering hospitality to strangers. Having been treated well himself by his hosts, Menelaus in turn wants to treat his own guests well. He instructs Eteoneus, his aide-in-arms, to bring in Telemachus and Pisistratus to share in their feast.

"Good blood runs in you, dear boy, your words are proof."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 4, line 688. Menelaus is impressed with Telemachus, who is about to leave and politely declines Menelaus’ invitation to stay longer and accept lavish gifts of stallions and a chariot. Telemachus turns down the offer of extended hospitality, because he is on a mission. Menelaus tells him that is he the worthy son of his famous father Odysseus. He gives him a gift of a mixing bowl made by the god of fire and smiths Hephaestus.

"Show me the way to town, give me a rag for cover,
just some cloth, some wrapper you carried with you here.
And may the good gods give you all your heart desires:
husband, and house, and lasting harmony too.
No finer, greater gift in the world than that…
when man and woman possess their home, two minds,
two hearts that work as one. Despair to their enemies,
a joy to all their friends. Their own best claim to glory."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 6, lines 196-203. Stripped of his pride and dignity, a naked shipwrecked Odysseus begs Phaeacian princess Nausicaa for help. He pleads for rags to cover him and assistance to get to the town. He prays that the gods will grant her heart’s desires and an ideal marriage. Here Odysseus appears to be flattering and even flirting with her.

"The belly’s a shameless dog, there’s nothing worse.
Always insisting, pressing, it never lets us forget –
destroyed as I am, my heart racked with sadness,
sick with anguish, still it keeps demanding,
‘Eat, drink!’ It blots out all the memory
of my pain, commanding, ‘Fill me up!’"

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 7, lines 251-256. After telling King Alcinous that he is not a god and just a mortal man, Odysseus is hungry and anxious to finish dinner. In an extended metaphor he compares the stomach to a dog that keeps demanding its fill of food and drink.

In came the herald now,
leading along the faithful bard the Muse adored
above all others, true, but her gifts were mixed
with good and evil both: she stripped him of sight
but gave the man the power of stirring, rapturous song.

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 8, lines 71-75. The bard Demodocus is said to have the gift of "rapturous song" and is favored by both the Muse and King Alcinous. The favorable terms which Homer uses to describe the blind poet and minstrel has led many people to believe that Demodocus is a representation of Homer himself, and that Homer was blind.

"I am Odysseus, son of Laertes, known to the world
for every kind of craft – my fame has reached the skies.
Sunny Ithaca is my home. Atop her stands our seamark,
Mount Neriton’s leafy ridges shimmering in the wind.
Around her a ring of islands circle side-by-side,
Dulichion, Same, wooded Zacynthus too, but mine
lies low and away, the farthest out to sea,
rearing into the western dusk
while the others face the east and breaking day.
Mine is a rugged land but good for raising sons –
and I myself, I know no sweeter sight on earth
than a man’s own native country."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 9, lines 21-32. Odysseus, who is in disguise, reveals his true identity to King Alcinous and the Phaeacians. While his guile and fame are known throughout the world, Odysseus is more interested in reaching home in Ithaca than achieving further fame and glory. This passage provides us with an insight into who Odysseus really is, and how after all his heroic adventures he now believes that there is simply no place like home. The heroes of The Iiad and The Odyssey lived by the ancient warrior code of kleos, meaning renown or glory, often attained in battle. But home now means more to Odysseus.

"But since we’ve chanced on you, we’re at your knees
in hopes of a warm welcome, even a guest-gift,
the sort that hosts give strangers. That’s the custom.
Respect the gods, my friend. We’re suppliants – at your mercy!
Zeus of the Strangers guards all guests and suppliants:
strangers are sacred – Zeus will avenge their rights!"

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 9, lines 300-305. Odysseus pleads with Polyphemus to honor the Greek custom of hospitality due to guests, so important to the gods. The god of hospitality Zeus avenges the rights of guests, Odysseus warns Polyphemus. However, Odysseus will soon learn that the Cyclops have little respect for or fear of the gods. Nor have they interest in being king and generous to strangers.

"So, you ask me the name I’m known by, Cyclops?
I will tell you. But you must give me a guest-gift
as you’ve promised. Nobody – that’s my name. Nobody –
so my mother and father call me, all my friends."
But he boomed back at me from his ruthless heart,
"Nobody? I’ll eat Nobody last of all his friends –
I’ll eat the others first! That’s my gift to you!"

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 9, lines 408-414. Odysseus tells Cyclops that his name is "Nobody." This is an example of Odysseus’ characteristic cunning and trickery, probably the most striking example in The Odyssey. The name forms part of a clever plan that Odysseus uses to escape from the Cyclops’ cave. It is also an example of verbal irony because Odysseus is King of Ithaca and not a nobody.

"Come, sheathe your sword, let’s go to bed together,
mount my bed and mix in the magic work of love –
we’ll breed deep trust between us."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 10, lines 370-372. Circe has respect for Odysseus after she sees his ability to withstand her magic and realizes who he is. The lustful goddess takes the initiative to invite him to sleep with her, starting an affair that will last a year. Sharing her bed will breed trust between them, she suggests, making clear that she wants to pursue a close relationship with him.

"there is a time for many words, a time for sleep as well.
But if you insist on hearing more, I’d never stint
on telling my own tale and those more painful still,
the griefs of my comrades, dead in the war’s wake,
who escaped the battle-cries of Trojan armies
only to die in blood at journey’s end –
thanks to a vicious woman’s will."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 11, lines 429-436. Odysseus says this to Alcinous, king of the Phaeacians, who wants him to continue regaling him with tales of his adventures, since "it’s hardly time to sleep." Though it causes Odysseus pain, he vows to never stop telling his story and those of the heroes of the Trojan War. The "vicious woman" Odysseus blames for the deaths of the Achaeans who escaped the Trojan armies is Persephone. She was goddess of the underworld and wife of Hades.

"I tell you this – bear it in mind, you must –
when you reach your homeland steer your ship
into port in secret, never out in the open…
the time for trusting women’s gone forever!"

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 11, lines 515-518. The ghost of Agamemnon advises Odysseus to sail home into Ithaca in secret and not to tell his wife. Agamemnon doesn’t want the same thing to happen to Odysseus as happened him. Agamemnon arrived home to a treacherous wife plotting to kill him and Odysseus doesn’t know if Penelope will welcome him and still be loyal to him.

"No winning words about death to me, shining Odysseus!
By god, I’d rather slave on earth for another man –
some dirt-poor tenant farmer who scrapes to keep alive –
than rule down here over all the breathless dead."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 11, lines 555-558. Here we have some of the most famous words in The Odyssey, spoken by the ghost of a regretful and disconsolate Achilles, who died in the Trojan War. Achilles rejects Odysseus’ view that a glorious death like his at Troy is to be envied, instead he is envious of Odysseus for being alive. He would rather be a poor farmer barely scraping a living, than lording it over the ghosts in the House of Death, he asserts. A poor life is better than a glorious death, according to the hero, who now regrets that he squandered life in pursuit of glory and an early death. Achilles’ words overturn on its head the ancient Greek concept of kleos, meaning eternal fame, often achieved by dying violent and dramatic deaths on the field of battle.

"Any man – any god who met you – would have to be
some champion lying cheat to get past you
for all-round craft and guile! You terrible man,
foxy, ingenious, never tired of twists and tricks –
so, not even here, on native soil, would you give up
those wily tales that warm the cockles of your heart!

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 13, lines 329-334. Athena praises Odysseus for his metis: the Greek quality that combines wisdom and cunning. Any man would have to be an expert cheat to get anything past Odysseus, she tells him. Instead of being angry at him for lying about being someone else from Crete, Athena admires Odysseus’ skills in the art of deception.

"I’d never detain you here too long, Telemachus,
not if your heart is set on going home.
I’d find fault with another host, I’m sure,
too warm to his guests, too pressing or too cold.
Balance is best in all things. It’s bad either way,
spurring the stranger home who wants to linger,
holding the one who longs to leave – you know,
‘Welcome the coming, speed the parting guest!’"

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 15, lines 74-81. When Telemachus tells Menelaus of his intention to depart, the gracious king of Sparta displays his wisdom with these words about hospitality to his parting guests. The son of Atreus shows himself to be the perfect host to Telemachus and Pisistratus.
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