The Odyssey Pride Quotes

"Never, your majesty,"
Telemachus countered gravely, "that will never
come to pass, I know. What you say dumbfounds me,
staggers imagination! Hope, hope as I will,
that day will never dawn…
not even if the gods should will it so."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 3, lines 255-260. This is Telemachus’ response to Nestor, who says that if only Athena favored Telemachus as she did his father Odysseus. This is an example of dramatic irony since the reader knows that Telemachus is being guided by Athena, disguised as Mentor, in his search for his father. It also shows Telemachus’ modesty and lack of pride.

"Right you are" – Pisistratus stepped in quickly –
"son of Atreus, King Menelaus, captain of armies:
here is the son of that great hero, as you say.
But the man is modest, he would be ashamed
to make a show of himself, his first time here,
and interrupt you. We delight in your voice
as if some god were speaking!"

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 4, lines 171-177. Helen and Menelaus have been talking about how Telemachus looks like the son of Odysseus. While Telemachus remains silent, Pisistratus in this passage confirms that he is son of the hero. He explains that Telemachus is much too modest and humble to barge into King Menelaus’ conversation and interrupt him. If Odysseus sometimes has too much pride, Telemachus seems to suffer a deficit of it.

"Ajax, now, went down with his long-oared fleet.
First Poseidon drove him onto the cliffs of Gyrae,
looming cliffs, then saved him from the breakers
he’d have escaped his doom, too, despite Athena’s hate,
if he hadn’t flung that brazen boast, the mad blind fool.
‘In the teeth of the gods,’ he bragged, ‘I have escaped
the ocean’s sheer abyss!’ Poseidon heard that frantic vaunt
and the god grasped his trident in both his massive hands
and struck the Gyraean headland, hacked the rock in two,
and the giant stump stood fast but the jagged spur
where Ajax perched at first, the raving madman –
toppling into the sea, it plunged him down, down
in the vast, seething depths. And so he died,
having drunk his fill of brine."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 4, lines 560-573. Proteus the sea god and seer speaks to Menelaus about the death of Little Ajax (also known as Ajax the Lesser). We hear how Ajax was doomed by his excessive pride. He angered Poseidon with his boast "in the teeth of the gods…I have escaped the ocean’s sheer abyss." So the god of the sea drowned him for his hubris. Proteus’ story refers to Little Ajax, son of Oileus, not to be confused with Telamon’s son, Great Ajax, who killed himself after the fall of Troy. The story goes that Little Ajax tried to rape King Priam’s daughter Cassandra in the temple of Athena, where she took refuge. When the Achaeans failed to punish him, Athena had wind storms blow him off course on his way home. Having almost reached home, Poseidon killed Little Ajax.

"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.

"Hear me, my lords and captains of Phaeacia!
By now we’ve had our fill of food well-shared
and the lyre too, our loyal friend at banquets.
Now out we go again and test ourselves in contests,
games of every kind – so our guest can tell his friends,
when he reaches home, how far we excel the world
at boxing, wrestling, jumping, speed of foot."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 8, lines 115-121. When Alcinous sees Odysseus crying at the bard’s song, he comes up with something to distract Odysseus from whatever is upsetting him. The king calls on everyone to go outside and play some sports. The proud Alcinous boasts about his people’s world-beating skills in boxing, wrestling and running.

With a dark glance
wily Odysseus shot back, "Indecent talk, my friend.
You, you’re a reckless fool – I see that. So,
the gods don’t hand out all their gifts at once,
not build and brains and flowing speech to all.
One man may fail to impress us with his looks
but a god can crown his words with beauty, charm,
and men look on with delight when he speaks out.
Never faltering, filled with winning self-control,
he shines forth at assembly grounds and people gaze
at him like a god when he walks through the streets.
Another man may look like a deathless one on high
but there’s not a bit of grace to crown his words.
Just like you, my fine, handsome friend. Not even
a god could improve those lovely looks of yours
but the mind inside is worthless."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 8, lines 190-205. Broadsea’s taunts about Odysseus’ lack of athleticism sparks Odysseus’ ire. The Greek hero’s pride is injured and he gives back as good as he gets. He talks about the power of intellect and eloquence, placing a high value on these. A man with unimpressive looks may be gifted with words, he tells the Phaeacian athlete. The same man can display charm and beauty and self-control, being seen by others as a god (simile), Odysseus says. He tells Broadsea distainfully that while his lovely looks could not be improved upon, his mind inside is worth nothing. When Odysseus remarks that the gods don’t hand out the gifts of build and brains and eloquence to everyone at once, his words are somewhat ironic. For he is one man who embodies all these gifts: he is highly intelligent, athletic, a proven warrior, an excellent leader and physically attractive.

"Your slander fans the anger in my heart!
I’m no stranger to sports – for all your taunts –
I’ve held my place in the front ranks, I tell you,
long as I could trust to my youth and striving hands.
But now I’m wrestled down by pain and hardship, look,
I’ve borne my share of struggles, cleaving my way
through wars of men and pounding waves at sea.
Nevertheless, despite so many blows,
I’ll compete in your games, just watch. Your insults
cut to the quick – you rouse my fighting blood!"

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 8, lines 206-215. Odysseus is angered by taunts over opting out of the Phaeacian sports. His pride is hurt and his blood is up. Broadsea’s derogatory remarks provoke him into competing.

"Now go match that, you young pups, and straightaway
I’ll hurl you another just as far, I swear, or even farther!
All the rest of you, anyone with the spine and spirit,
step right up and try me – you’ve incensed me so –
at boxing, wrestling, racing; nothing daunts me.
Any Phaeacian here except Laodamas himself.
The man’s my host. Who would fight his friend?
He’d have to be good-for-nothing, senseless, yes,
to challenge his host and come to grips in games,
in a far-off land at that. He’d cut his own legs short."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 8, lines 233-242. Odysseus issues this challenge after he grabs a discus, heavier than any used by the Phaeacians in the games, and hurls it past all those previously thrown. Angered by an ill-mannered Phaeacian who insults his athetic abilities, he proudfully boasts about his skill in boxing and wrestling.

"I’ll take on all contenders, gladly, test them head-to-head!
I’m no disgrace in the world of games where men compete.
Well I know how to handle a fine polished bow,
the first to hit my man in a mass of enemies,
even with rows of comrades pressing near me,
taking aim with our shafts to hit our targets."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 8, lines 244-249. After winning the discus competition at the Phaeacian games, Odysseus brags about his prowess at handling a bow and picking off his enemies. As well as demonstrating his pride, this foreshadows how Odysseus will later use his bow to kill the suitors.

"So, Cyclops, no weak coward it was whose crew
you bent to devour there in your vaulted cave –
you with your brute force! Your filthy crimes
came down on your own head, you shameless cannibal,
daring to eat your guests in your own house –
so Zeus and the other gods have paid you back."
That made the rage of the monster boil over.

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 9, lines 531-537. Odysseus just cannot keep his pride and ego under control. After blinding and outsmarting Polyphemus, he is now safely offshore in his boat. But he shouts back and taunts Polyphemus, telling him that for eating his guests, Polyphemus has been dealt divine justice by Zeus. Using a metaphor in a verb, Homer likens the anger of the Cyclops to boiling liquid spilling over.

"So headstrong – why? Why rile the beast again?"
"That rock he flung in the sea just now, hurling our ship
to shore once more – we thought we’d die on the spot!"
"If he’d caught a sound from one of us, just a moan,
he would have crushed our heads and ship timbers
with one heave of another flashing, jagged rock!"

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 9, lines 550-555. Odysseus’ men are none too happy that their leader has allowed pride get the better of him and provoked the Cyclops with taunts. As a result Polyphemus hurls a huge rock at their ship and creates a wave driving it back to shore.

"Cyclops –
if any man on the face of the earth should ask you
who blinded you, shamed you so – say Odysseus,
raider of cities, he gouged out your eye,
Laertes’ son who makes his home in Ithaca!

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 9, lines 560-562. Having outsmarted Polyphemus, Odysseus is making his escape in the ship with his men while the giant Cyclops hurls boulders at them. But excessive pride gets the better of Odysseus and he cannot help but shout back his name to Polyphemus. This fatal lapse in self-control by Odysseus will lead to epic misfortunates for Odysseus and his crew. The Greek hero’s hubris is repaid by Polyphemus who calls on his father Poseidon to avenge him. From that day Odysseus has nothing but ill luck and goes on to lose all his men. It will be ten years before he alone makes it home to his family in Ithaca, because he hurt the son of Poseidon.

"Ajax, son of noble Telamon, still determined,
even in death, not once to forget that rage
you train on me for those accursed arms?
The gods set up that prize to plague the Achaeans –
so great a tower of strength we lost when you went down!
For your death we grieved as we did for Achilles’ death –
we grieved incessantly, true, and none’s to blame
but Zeus, who hated Achaea’s fighting spearmen
so intensely, Zeus sealed your doom.
Come closer, king, and listen to my story.
Conquer your rage, your blazing, headstrong pride!"

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 11, lines 632-642. Odysseus meets the ghost of Ajax the Great, still angry at Odysseus for having won the contest for the armor of Achilles. Odysseus tries to pacify him and reclaim his friendship, telling Ajax that his death was not his fault but Zeus was to blame for it. He calls on Ajax to conquer his rage and pride – just before this passage Odysseus refers to Ajax as the "proud hero." Once again the gods are blamed for something they are not responsible for. Ajax took his own life after he competed with Odysseus for the armor of Achilles and lost.

"So stubborn!" the lovely goddess countered.
"Hell-bent yet again on battle and feats of arms?
Can’t you bow to the deathless gods themselves?
Scylla’s no mortal, she’s an immortal devastation,
terrible, savage, wild, no fighting her, no defense –
just flee the creature, that’s the only way.
Waste any time, arming for battle beside her rock,
I fear she’ll lunge out again with all of her six heads
and seize as many men."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 12, lines 125-133. Odysseus believes that he will be able to fight Scylla off without suffering casualties among his men. But sorceress and goddess Circe angrily reminds him of the immortal Scylla’s devastating power. Circe understands Odysseus’ proud heart and urges him to rein in his instincts for battle. She tells him not to fight Scylla or arm for battle. But he should just flee this creature, otherwise she will seize as many men as she can, Circe warns.

"I alone was to hear their voices, so she said,
but you must bind me with tight chafing ropes
so I cannot move a muscle, bound to the spot,
erect at the mast-block, lashed by ropes to the mast.
And if I plead, commanding you to set me free,
then lash me faster, rope on pressing rope."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 12, lines 174-179. Odysseus is without question a heroic character who accomplishes his goals. But he does have one great flaw that can sometimes compromise him or the safety of his men – his hubris. Having heard that no man has ever listened to the Sirens’ song and survived, he wants to be the first. He tells the crew what Circe has advised, to tie him to the mast with ropes so that he alone can hear the Sirens’ voices. Later he and the crew survive the Sirens unharmed, but Odysseus’ excessive pride puts himself and his crew at risk.

Now with a sharp sword I sliced an ample wheel of beeswax
down into pieces, kneaded them in my two strong hands
and the wax soon grew soft, worked by my strength
and Helios’ burning rays, the sun at high noon,
and I stopped the ears of my comrades one by one.
They bound me hand and foot in the tight ship –
erect at the mast-block, lashed by ropes to the mast –
and rowed and churned the whitecaps stroke on stroke.
We were just offshore as far as a man’s shout can carry,
scudding close, when the Sirens sensed at once a ship
was racing past and burst into their high, thrilling song.

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 12, lines 189-199. Odysseus displays his cunning once again when it is time to pass the Sirens. To protect against their irresistible song that lures sailors to their doom, he plugs the crewmen’s ears with beeswax. Then he instructs the crew to bind him with ropes to the mast, so he can listen to the Sirens and not endangering his ship or those on it. There is an element of pride in Odysseus’ decision to leave his ears unplugged. He wants the bragging rights of being the first person to hear the Sirens and live.

"Come closer, famous Odysseus – Achaea’s pride and glory –
moor your ship on our coast so you can hear our song!
Never has any sailor passed our shores in his black craft
until he has heard the honeyed voices pouring from our lips,
and once he hears to his heart’s content sails on, a wiser man.
We know all the pains that the Greeks and Trojans once endured
on the spreading plain of Troy when the gods willed it so –
all that comes to pass on the fertile earth, we know it all!"

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 12, lines 200-207. As Odysseus’ ship races past the Sirens, Homer describes how the hypnotic but deadly women of the sea burst into their irresistible song. In their bid to tempt Odysseus, the Sirens feed into his ego and pride, referring to his fame and how he is the pride and glory of his people. A metaphor compares their voices to the pouring of sweet honey. The Sirens ask him to moor his ship on their coast, promising that he will sail away a wiser man. This is an example of irony, since the readers knows that the Sirens mean the opposite of what they say, they use their hypnotic feminine voices to lure sailors to their deaths on their rocky shores.

But now I cleared my mind of Circe’s orders –
cramping my style, urging me not to arm at all.
I donned my heroic armor, seized long spears
in both my hands and marched out on the half-deck,
forward, hoping from there to catch the first glimpse
of Scylla, ghoul of the cliffs, swooping to kill my men.

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 12, lines 245-250. Circe’s warning about Scylla is forgotten by Odysseus. She had told him not to fight the six-headed monster or arm for battle, but instead to flee her. But proud and stubborn Odysseus prepares to battle Scylla instead, because that is his nature. As he readies to fight, Scylla is already swooping down to kill his men.

Odysseus was torn…
should he wheel with his staff and beat the scoundrel senseless? –
or hoist him by the midriff, split his skull on the rocks?
He steeled himself instead, his mind in full control.

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 17, lines 257-260. A furious Odysseus, disguised as a beggar and pretending not to be a king, wonders if should retaliate and split goatherd Melanthius’ skull over his taunts. When confronted by such disrespect, Odysseus’ instinct for vengeance kicks in. However, though his pride is wounded, he decides that self-restraint is the best course and doesn’t react to the goatherd’s provocations. Cunning Odysseus wants to maintain his disguise and keep his true identity from people.

A killing look,
and the wily old soldier countered, "Out of your mind?
What damage have I done to you? What have I said?
I don’t grudge you anything,
not of the next man up and gives you plenty.
This doorsill is big enough for the both of us –
you’ve got no call to grudge me what’s not yours.
You’re another vagrant, just like me, I’d say,
and it lies with the gods to make us rich or poor. So,
keep your fists to yourself, don’t press your luck, don’t rile me,
or old as I am, I’ll bloody your lip, splatter your chest
and buy myself some peace and quiet for tomorrow.
I doubt you’ll ever come lumbering back again
to the halls of Laertes’ royal son Odysseus."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 18, lines 16-22. Odysseus responds to Irus’ objection to him being on the palace grounds, because the house is not big enough for two beggars. In this passage Odysseus displays his cunning, as he uses brain before brawn to outsmart and fight his foes. To avoid a physical confrontation, he attempts to frighten off Irus challenge with words. But in doing so the proud Odysseus cannot help but boast of his fighting powers by threatening to "bloody your lip, spatter your chest."

"Of all that breathes and crawls across the earth,
our mother earth breeds nothing feebler than a man.
So long as the gods grant him power, spring in his knees,
he thinks he will never suffer affliction down the years.
But then, when the happy gods bring on the long hard times,
bear them he must, against his will, and steel his heart.
Our lives, our mood and mind as we pass across the earth,
turn as the days turn."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 18, lines 150-157. Odysseus offers this warning of the dangers of hubris to suitor Amphinomus shortly after defeating "Beggar King" Irus in a fight. He paints a picture of man being the weakest creature who only prospers at the will and whims of the gods. When the gods bring hard times, man must endure them. Odysseus is saying that the gods are more powerful than man and his fate is controlled by them. The Greek hero’s speech reflects a maturity and understanding of what he has learned from his own perilous and difficult journey. His carefully chosen words help to maintain his beggar disguise and made-up backstory – of being once a wealthy warrior who plundered foreign lands until captured by his enemies. They also foreshadow a similar great fall for the suitors, who have plundered another man’s house and wealth.

"You’re sick with pride, you brutal fool.
No doubt you count yourself a great, powerful man
because you sport with a puny crowd, ill-bred to boot.
If only Odysseus came back home and stood right here,
in a flash you’d find those doors – broad as they are –
too cramped for your race to safety through the porch!"

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 18, lines 431-436. When Eurymachus makes fun of and insults Odysseus, asking if he wants to work for him, the disguised king accuses Eurymachus of being sick with pride. Odysseus-the-beggar sounds an ominous warning that there will be no safe escape for the suitors when Odysseus returns. Foreshadowed here is Odysseus’ deadly and final battle with the suitors.

That made Eurymachus’ fury seethe and burst –
he gave the beggar a dark look and let fly, "You,
you odious – I’ll make you pay for your ugly rant!
Bold as brass in the face of all these lords?
No fear in your heart? Wine’s got to your wits? –
or do you always play the fool and babble nonsense?
Lost your head, have you, because you drubbed that hobo Irus?"
As he shouted out he seized a stool, but Odysseus,
fearing the blow, crouched at Amphinomus’ knees
as Eurymachus hurled and hit the wine-steward.

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 18, lines 437-446. Eurymachus’ pride is hurt when Odysseus stands up to his insults and calls him ill-bred and part of a "puny crowd." He erupts with fury and hurls a stool at Odysseus, but misses and it hits a servant instead. The arrogant Eurymachus is later cut down by a arrow from Odysseus’ bow.

So he declared. And they all bit their lips,
amazed the prince could speak with so much daring
Only Eupithes’ son Antinous ventured,
"Fighting words, but do let’s knuckle under –
to our prince. Such abuse, such naked threats!
But clearly Zeus has foiled us. Or long before
we would have shut his mouth for him in the halls,
fluent and flowing as he is."
So he mocked.

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 20, lines 297-304. The suitors are amazed and bite their lips at Telemachus’ admonishment that they had better behave in his father’s palace and that he is in charge there. They all remain silent, with the exception of Antinous. The leading suitor belittles Telemachus in his own home and speaks sarcastically of his fighting talk and threats. He doesn’t believe that Telemachus could have spoken like that on his own, but had the help of the gods. He acknowledges that the suitors’ schemes against Telemachus have been foiled by Zeus, but continues to mock the prince – against the will of the gods! Antinous puts his hubris on full display here.

"Poor men, what terror is this that overwhelms you so?
Night shrouds your heads, your faces, down to your knees –
cries of mourning are bursting into fire – cheeks rivering tears –
the walls and the handsome crossbeams dripping dank with blood!
Ghosts, look, thronging the entrance, thronging the court,
go trooping down to the world of death and darkness!
The sun is blotted out of the sky – look there –
a lethal mist spreads all across the earth!"
At that
they all broke into peals of laughter aimed at the seer.

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 20, lines 391-399. The seer Theoclymenus gives an ominous warning to the suitors. He points to bad omens, foreshadowing the suitors’ deaths: walls dripping with blood, ghosts at the door, a lethal mist blocking out the sun. But the prideful suitors arrogantly dismiss his warning and respond with derisive laughter.

"Penelope – child – wake up and see for yourself,
with your own eyes, all you dreamed of, all your days!
He’s here – Odysseus – he’s come home, at long last!
He’s killed the suitors, swaggering young brutes
who plagued his house, wolfed his cattle down,
rode roughshod over his son!"

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 23, lines 5-10. Eurycleia makes her way to the queen’s chamber to tell Penelope the goods news of Odysseus’ return. She informs her that the prideful and greedy suitors have met their end at the hands of her husband.
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