February 22nd, 2005
ελπις και κινδυνος εν ανθρωποισιν ομοιοι.
ουτοι γαρ χαλεποι δαιμονες αμφοτεροι.
Hope and danger in men are similar for they both are harsh gods.
Theognis 637-638 B.C.
February 13th, 2005
A Sailor's Advice
You will live wisely, Licini, if you neither always push on to deep waters nor, while on guard, fearing storms, too closely hug the rocky shore.
Whoever values the "golden mean", safely shuns the dilapidated hovels of poverty as well as the lofty, envy producing palaces.
The giant pine is often shaken by the wind. Lofty towers fall heavily. Lightning strikes the highest mountains.
Hopeful in adversity and in good times, mindful of what will follow, is a heart well prepared.
The ugly winter that Jupiter calls back was by him summoned.
If now it is evil, in the future it will not always be so.
Some days , Apollo awakens the silent Muse with his lyre.
He does not always draw the bow.
In narrow straits appear bold and strong and when following winds excessively swell your sails draw them in.
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Liber II, Carmina X, Quintius Horatius Flaccus
65 B. C. - 8 B. C.
November 15th, 2004
Carpe Diem
You should not seek to know (it is against divine law)
what end the Gods have decreed for you and me, Leuconoe,
nor dabble in Babylonian numerology.
It is better,what ever it was, to endure it,
whether Jupiter has decreed more winters
or that this be the last that now tires the Tyrrhenum sea against the rocks.
Seize the day, not faint hope for the future.
Liber I, Carmina XI, Quintius Horatius Flaccus 65 B. C. - 8 B. C
July 24th, 2004
"Abscisa servom quid figis, Pontice, lingua?
Nescis tu populum, quod tacet ille, loqui?"
"The servant you hung, Ponticus, why did you cut out his tongue?
Don't you know that, because he is silent, the people speak?"
Liber II, LXXXII, Martialis, 40 - 104 A. D.
July 12th, 2004
"Nihil Sub Sole Novum"
"There is nothing new under the sun." Ecclesiastes - 1st century A. D.
July 2nd, 2004
"Question Authority."
A sixties bumper sticker. Late 20th century A. D.
Cicero, in the 1st century B. C. after describing how he had been rigorously studying the Greek and Latin philosophers
(read authorities/experts) had this to say.
Those, however, who seek what we ourselves think of every thing, show more curiosity than is necessary. For, truly, in
argument it is not authority, but the weight of reason that should be sought.
Indeed, even the authority of those men, who profess to teach, is for the most part
an obstacle to those wishing to learn, for they cease to apply their
own judgment. They consider it confirmed, what they have seen decided by the
teachers they have accepted. Nor, however, am I accustomed
to approve what we have heard of the Pythagoreans, who, when they affirmed
in argument and were asked why it was so, were allowed to respond ”He himself said
it”. Himself, of course was Pythagoras. So great was the power of prejudice,
that even without reason, authority would prevail.