Hesiod

best man truth counsel ponder wisdom straw

“That man is best who sees the truth himself. Good too is he who listens to wise counsel. But who is neither wise himself nor willing to ponder wisdom is not worth a straw.”

― Hesiod (c. 700 BC)

thinking himself learning failure

“But he who neither thinks for himself nor learns from others, is a failure as a man.”

― Hesiod (c. 700 BC)

wor against others bad advice

“A man who works evil against another works it really against himself, and bad advice is worst for the one who devised it”

― Hesiod (c. 700 BC)

god wife bad painful

“For a man can win nothing better than a good wife, and nothing more painful than a bad one.”

― Hesiod (c. 700 BC)

hope future people frivolous youth reckless respectful elders

"I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on the frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words. When I was a boy, we were taught to be discrete and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise and impatient of restraint."

― Hesiod (c. 700 BC)

due measure timing important

"Observe due measure, for right timing is in all things the most important factor."

― Hesiod (c. 700 BC)

bacteria culture people

"Bacteria: The only culture some people have."

― Hesiod (c. 700 BC)

add little often become great

"If you add a little to a little and do this often, soon the little will become great."

― Hesiod (c. 700 BC)

systematic human disorder enemy

"It is best to do things systematically, since we are only human, and disorder is our worst enemy."

― Hesiod (c. 700 BC)