Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad (Q11864518)
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phrase
| Language | Label | Description | Also known as |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad |
phrase |
Statements
1 reference
(615) ἁ γὰρ δὴ πολύπλαγκτος ἐλπὶς πολλοῖς μὲν ὄνασις ἀνδρῶν,πολλοῖς δ᾽ ἀπάτα κουφονόων ἐρώτων:εἰδότι δ᾽ οὐδὲν ἕρπει, πρὶν πυρὶ θερμῷ πόδα τις(620) προσαύσῃ. σοφίᾳ γὰρ ἔκ του κλεινὸν ἔπος πέφανται.τὸ κακὸν δοκεῖν ποτ᾽ ἐσθλὸντῷδ᾽ ἔμμεν ὅτῳ φρέναςθεὸς ἄγει πρὸς ἄταν: (Ancient Greek)
[615] See how that hope whose wanderings are so wide truly is a benefit to many men, but to an equal number it is a false lure of light-headed desires. The deception comes to one who is wholly unawares until he burns his foot on a hot fire. [620] For with wisdom did someone once reveal the maxim, now famous, that evil at one time or another seems good, to him whose mind a god leads to ruin. (English)