Aristophanes Quotes

High thoughts must have high language.

~ Aristophanes

[Y]ou [man] are fool enough, it seems, to dare to war with [woman=] me, when for your faithful ally you might win me easily.

~ Aristophanes

To win the people, always cook them some savoury that pleases them.

~ Aristophanes

What can you answer? Now be careful, don’t arouse my spite, Or with my slipper I’ll take you napping,faces slappingLeft and right.

~ Aristophanes

[Y]ou possess all the attributes of a demagogue; a screeching, horrible voice, a perverse, crossgrained nature and the language of the market-place. In you all is united which is needful for governing.

~ Aristophanes

You [demagogues] are like the fishers for eels; in still waters they catch nothing, but if they thoroughly stir up the slime, their fishing is good; in the same way it's only in troublous times that you line your pockets.

~ Aristophanes

If it is necessary for us to do anything [in view of peace], direct us and architect.πρὸς τάδ’ ἡμῖν, εἴ τι χρὴ δρᾶν, φράζε κἀρχιτεκτόνει.

~ Aristophanes

There is no beast, no rush of fire, like woman so untamed. She calmly goes her way where even panthers would be shamed.

~ Aristophanes

MAGISTRATEDon't men grow old?LYSISTRATANot like women. When a man comes homeThough he's grey as grief he can always get a girl.There's no second spring for a woman. None.She can't recall it, nobody wants her, howeverShe squanders her time on the promise of oracles,It's no use...

~ Aristophanes

Magistrate: What do you propose to do then, pray?Lysistrata: You ask me that! Why, we propose to administer the treasury ourselvesMagistrate: You do?Lysistrata: What is there in that a surprise to you? Do we not administer the budget of household expenses?Magistrate: But that is not the same thing.Lysistrata: How so – not the same thing?Magistrate: It is the treasury supplies the expenses of the War.Lysistrata: That's our first principle – no War!

~ Aristophanes

Magistrate: May I die a thousand deaths ere I obey one who wears a veil!Lysistrata: If that's all that troubles you, here take my veil, wrap it round your head, and hold your tounge. Then take this basket; put on a girdle, card wool, munch beans. The War shall be women's business.

~ Aristophanes

Lysistrata: To seize the treasury; no more money, no more war.

~ Aristophanes

Lysistrata: Oh, Calonicé, my heart is on fire; I blush for our sex. Men will have it we are tricky and sly...Calonicé: And they are quite right, upon my word!Lysistrata: Yet, look you, when the women are summoned to meet for a matter of the last importance, they lie abed instead of coming.Calonicé: Oh, they will come, my dear; but 'tis not easy you know, for a woman to leave the house. One is busy pottering about her husband; another is getting the servant up; a third is putting her child asleep or washing the brat or feeding it.

~ Aristophanes

Chorus of old men: If we give them the least hold over us, 'tis all up! their audacity will know no bounds! We shall see them building ships, and fighting sea-fights like Artemisia; nay if they want to mount and ride as cavalry, we had best cashier the knights, for indeed women excel in riding, and have a fine, firm seat for the gallop. Just think of all those squadrons of Amazons Micon has painted for us engaged in hand-to-hand combat with men.

~ Aristophanes

Chorus of women: […] Oh! my good, gallant Lysistrata, and all my friends, be ever like a bundle of nettles; never let you anger slacken; the wind of fortune blown our way.

~ Aristophanes

Shrines! Shrines! Surely you don't believe in the gods. What's your argument? Where's your proof?

~ Aristophanes

Look at the orators in our republics; as long as they are poor, both state and people can only praise their uprightness; but once they are fattened on the public funds, they conceive a hatred for justice, plan intrigues against the people and attack the democracy.

~ Aristophanes

Comedy too can sometimes discern what is right.

~ Aristophanes

Chorus of old men: How true the saying: 'Tis impossible to live with the baggages, impossible to live without 'em.

~ Aristophanes

Under every stone lurks a politician.

~ Aristophanes

Thou shouldst not decide until thou hast heard what both have to say.

~ Aristophanes

Let each man exercise the art he knows.

~ Aristophanes

These impossible women! How they do get around us! The poet was right: Can't live with them, or without them.

~ Aristophanes

Your lost friends are not dead, but gone before, advanced a stage or two upon that road which you must travel in the steps they trod.

~ Aristophanes

Why, I'd like nothing better than to achieve some bold adventure, worthy of our trip.

~ Aristophanes

A man may learn wisdom even from a foe.

~ Aristophanes