A god implants in mortal guilt whenever he wants utterly to confound a house.
AeschylusRead
Call no man happy till he is dead.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Happiness is only truly realized in hindsight, often seen more clearly after death.
Aeschylus suggests that true happiness cannot be fully appreciated or recognized during a person's life. It implies that only upon reflection, especially after one's death, can the measure of a person's happiness be accurately judged, as life is fraught with challenges and uncertainties that can obscure our sense of joy.
Themes
HappinessLifeReflectionPhilosophyPerspective
In practice
Example use cases
In a eulogy, one might reflect on the life of the deceased and say, 'Call no man happy till he is dead, for now we can see the true impact of his joy on others.'
More from Aeschylus
All quotes βNeither a life of anarchy nor a life under a despot should you praise. To all that lies in the middle has a god given excellence.
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In every tyrant's heart there springs in the end this poison, that he cannot trust a friend.
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It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.
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In war, truth is the first casualty.
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There is no pain so great as the memory of joy in present grief.
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