Aristophanes
Greek poet and playwright of the Old Comedy, also known as the Father of Comedy and the Prince of Ancient Comedy.
[Choir of] Men: There is no beast, no rush of fire, like woman so untamed. She calmly goes her way where even panthers would be shamed.
[Choir of] Women: And yet you are fool enough, it seems, to dare to war with me, when for your faithful ally you might win me easily.
(tr. Lindsay 1925, Perseus)
Chorus [leader]: Come now, ye men, in nature darkling, like to the race of leaves, of little might, figures of clay, shadowy feeble tribes, wingless creatures of a day, miserable mortals, dream-like men.
(tr. Hickie 1853, vol. 1, p. 338)
Dicaeopolis: Well, how are things at Megara?
Megarian: We are crying with hunger at our firesides.
Dicaeopolis: The fireside is jolly enough with a piper. But what else is doing at Megara, eh?
Megarian: What else? When I left for the market, the authorities were taking steps to let us die in the quickest manner.
Dicaeopolis: That is the best way to get you out of all your troubles.
Megarian: True.
Dicaeopolis: What other news of Megara? What is wheat selling at?
Megarian: With us it is valued as highly as the very gods in heaven!
(tr. Athen. 1912, vol. 1, Perseus)
Phobokleon: Hunger knows no friend but its feeder.
(embellished tr. Parker 1962, p. 55)
Leader of the Chorus: An insult directed at the wicked is not to be censured; on the contrary, the honest man, if he has sense, can only applaud.
(tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus)
Unjust Discourse: To invoke solely the weaker arguments and yet triumph is a talent worth more than a hundred thousand drachmae.
(tr. Athen. 1912, vol. 1, p. 361)
Chorus [of Birds]: Man naturally is deceitful, ever indeed, and always, in every one thing.
(tr. Warter 1830, p. 199)
Just Cause: You are debauched and shameless.
Unjust Cause: You have spoken roses of me.
Just Cause: And a dirty lickspittle.
Unjust Cause: You crown me with lilies.
Just Cause: And a parricide.
Unjust Cause: You don't know that you are sprinkling me with gold.
Just Cause: Certainly not so formerly, but with lead.
Unjust Cause: But now this is an ornament to me.
(tr. Hickie 1853, vol. 1, Perseus - for comparison with tr. below)
Philokleon: Let each man exercise the art he knows.
(tr. Rogers 1909, p. 110)
Pisthetaerus: By words the mind is winged. (tr. unknown, seen in Airpower Journal 1990, and in Macmillan Dictionary of Political Quotations 1993, Google Books Search)
Lysistrata: O women, if we would compel the men to bow to Peace, [...] We must refrain from every depth of love.... Why do you turn your backs? Where are you going? Why do you bite your lips and shake your heads? Why are your faces blanched? Why do you weep?
(tr. Lindsay 1925, Perseus)
Sosias: The love of wine is a good man's failing.
(tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus)
Philosophy: Why, you Precocious Pederast! You Palpable Pervert!
Sophistry: Pelt me with roses!
Philosophy: You Toadstool! O Cesspool!
Sophistry: Wreath my hairs with lilies!
Philosophy: Why, you Parricide!
Sophistry: Shower me with gold! Look, don't you see I welcome your abuse?
Philosophy: Welcome it, monster? In my day we would have cringed with shame.
Sophistry: Whereas now we're flattered. Times change. The vices of your age are stylish today.
(heavily rewritten and embellished tr. Arrowsmith 1962, p. 70)
Demosthenes: Do you dare to accuse wine of clouding the reason? Quote me more marvellous effects than those of wine. Look! when a man drinks, he is rich, everything he touches succeeds, he gains lawsuits, is happy and helps his friends. Come, bring hither quick a flagon of wine, that I may soak my brain and get an ingenious idea.
(tr. O'Neill 1938, Perseus)
Strepsiades: Vortex reigns, having expelled Zeus.
(tr. Hickie 1853, vol. 1, Perseus)