A god implants in mortal guilt whenever he wants utterly to confound a house.
I willingly speak to those who know, but for those who do not know I forget.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the idea of engaging in meaningful conversations with knowledgeable individuals while dismissing those who lack understanding.
In this quote, Aeschylus suggests that communication and dialogue hold value when they are exchanges between knowledgeable minds. He implies a certain level of contempt for conversations that do not contribute to understanding or enlightenment, advocating for prioritizing interaction with those who are informed and capable of meaningful discourse. This can also highlight the importance of seeking out wisdom and knowledge in our discussions and relationships.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about effective communication in a seminar, this quote can emphasize the importance of engaging with knowledgeable participants.
More from Aeschylus
All quotes →Neither 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.
In every tyrant's heart there springs in the end this poison, that he cannot trust a friend.
It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.
In war, truth is the first casualty.
There is no pain so great as the memory of joy in present grief.
Similar quotes
If we rail and kick against it and grow bitter, we won't change the inevitable; but we will change ourselves. I know. I have tried it. I once refused to accept an inevitable situation with which I was confronted. I played the fool and railed against it, and rebelled. I turned my nights into hells of insomnia. I brought upon myself everything I didn't want. Finally, after a year of self-torture, I had to accept what I knew from the outset I couldn't possible alter.
Our brains are very, very good at self-delusion. What happens is, it releases the stress hormone cortisol in the brain, which leads to foggy thinking, so you're not even able to judge well whether you're working well or not.
The most peaceful thing in the world is plowing a field. Chances are you’ll do your best thinking that way. And that’s why I’ve always thought and said, farmers are the smartest people in the world, they don’t go for high hats and they can spot a phony a mile off.
Each generation faces different issues and challenges, but our standard must always be measured by God's word.
Tomorrow is the day when idlers work, and fools reform, and mortal men lay hold on heaven.
As a child, I didn't know what I didn't have. I'm thankful for the challenges early on in my life because now I have a perspective on the world and kind of know what's important.