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David Whitehead
61
61 entries for
proverbs
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β
190
Βάτραχος ἐκ Σερίφου
a frog out of Seriphos
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to those without a voice. Inasmuch as when the frogs in Seriphos were carried to Skyros they did not make a sound.
Matched in translation
high
short
α
4438
Αὐλητοῦ βίον ζῇς
you are living a piper's life
[sc. A
proverbial
saying] in reference to those living from means not their own; insofar as pipers live for free by watching out for those who are sacrificing.
Matched in translation
high
short
ε
49
Ἐγένετο καὶ Μάνδρωνι συκίνη ναῦς
even Mandron got a fig-wood ship
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] used in reference to those who have been fortunate beyond their hopes and deserts, and then give themselves airs at their present circumstances. For Mandron was chosen admiral amongst Athenians, …
economics
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5
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5
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5
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5
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5
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4
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4
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4
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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2
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2
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2
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Matched in translation
high
short
δ
1076
Δικαιότερον σταχάνης
more just than a stachane
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to those who love justice; for stachane is what the Dorians call a pair of scales, perhaps by a link with stasis. And [there is] another [version of …
Matched in translation
high
short
ε
814
Ἐλέφαντα ἐκ μυίας ποιεῖν
to make an elephant out of a fly
[sc. A
proverbial
saying] in reference to those whose words exalt trivial things and make them great. In Lucian's In Praise of a Fly: "in case I seem, as the
proverb
has it, to …
Matched in translation
high
short
β
367
Βολίτου δίκην
case of a cow-pat
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase directed] toward those undertaking lawsuits over trivia. For the law of Solon punishes even those filching a cow-pat.
Matched in translation
high
short
χ
64
Χαμαί
on the ground
[Meaning] on the earth. And [there is] a
proverb:
'to draw water on the ground', the equivalent of achieving nothing. Another instance is 'to wash a brick'. Used in reference to things that are …
Matched in translation
high
short
δ
273
Δεσμοὶ Τυρρηνοί
Etruscan chains, Etruscan fetters
… Hesychius, whose (mysterious) gloss is 'the ones [the] Athenians used'.
Proverbial
in Apostolius 5.97, with the same glossing as here. In Appendix
Proverbiorum
1.96 a second sentence of explanation is added: 'applied to those …
Matched in notes
high
short
χ
115
Χαρινάδης
Charinades
… name. This man was sluggish. And [sc. thereby arose] a
proverb:
'Charinades is better than you at walking'. In reference to those making slow progress.
Matched in translation
high
short
χ
586
Χρυσοχοεῖον
goldsmithy
… for him as to experience it". Plato too employs the
proverb:
"well, said Thrasymachus, is he 'smelting gold'?". They say that the
proverb
originated as follows. A certain rumor once struck the mass of …
Matched in translation
high
medium
α
4096
Ἀρχὴ ἄνδρα δείκνυσιν
office exposes a man
[sc. A
proverb]
applied to those who are decent men before holding office but become violent in the post itself. They say that this a dictum of Solon's, though Aristotle and Theophrastus [says it …
Matched in translation
high
short
δ
1207
Διὸς Κόρινθος
Zeus' [son] Korinthos
A
proverb
applying to those who keep saying the same things, it was coined for the following reason: the Megarians, subject to the Corinthians, were oppressed with their orders and clearly vexed on this …
Matched in translation
high
medium
χ
269
Χειρώνειον ἕλκος
Cheironian sore, Chironian sore
… from [sc. too] much standing, and continuously exuding serums. The
proverb
applies to intolerable and incurable sores.
Matched in translation
high
short
χ
444
Χωρὶς ἱππεῖς
cavalry away!
… gone Miltiades charged and so won a victory. Hence the
proverb
is said in reference to those breaking ranks.
Matched in translation
high
short
α
1842
Ἀναγυράσιος
Anagyrasian
… from which [is an] Anagyrasian. Also [sc. attested is the
proverbial
phrase] "Anagyrasian spirit". And [there is] a shrine of Anagyros in the deme of the Anagyrasians. [The phrase] "Anagyrasian spirit" [arose] because a …
Matched in translation
high
medium
α
1843
Ἀνάγυρος
Anagyros, Anagyrous, Anagyrus
… a flower, which smells when crushed. And [there is] a
proverb
from it, "You are moving the anagyros", in reference to those who bring evils on themselves. Anagyros is an evil-averting and foul-smelling plant. …
Matched in translation
high
short
α
2768
Ἀντρῶνες
Antrones
A city in Thessaly. Also [sc. attested is a
proverb]
"Antronian donkey"; as very large ones occur in Antrones.
Matched in translation
high
short
α
2861
Ἄπαγε
stop! arrest!
… [a)pagwgh/]. So Demosthenes [sc. mentions this]. And [there is] a
proverb:
"stop a stranger in a storm"; in reference to troublesome people/things.
Matched in translation
high
short
α
4098
Ἀρχὴν ἰᾶσθαι πολὺ λώϊον ἠὲ τελευτήν
far better to heal a beginning than an end
The
proverb
shows that it is preferable to prevent suffering and anything else terrible as it is beginning rather than when it has fully developed and reached its conclusion.
Matched in translation
high
short
α
4121
Ἀρχύτας
Archytas, Arkhutas
… was plainly a teacher of Empedocles. And [there is] a
proverb:
Archytas' rattle; [coined] because Archytas invented the rattle, which is a kind of instrument producing sound and noise. "He made a bronze rattle …
Matched in translation
high
medium
αι
382
Αἱ Οἰδίποδος ἀραί
the curses of Oedipus
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to those experiencing major misfortunes.
Matched in translation
high
short
β
462
Βοῦς Κύπριος
Cypriot ox
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to the coarse and unperceptive man. For they say that Cypriot oxen eat dung.
Matched in translation
high
short
β
463
Βοῦς ὁ Μολοττῶν
Molossian ox
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to those who divide and chop up things into many pieces. For in their oath-taking the Molossians used to make their compacts by cutting up the oxen into …
Matched in translation
high
short
β
583
Βοιωτία ὗς
Boiotian sow, Boeotian sow
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to those lacking perception and education.
Matched in translation
high
short
δ
91
Δατός
Datos, Datus, Daton, Datum
Name of a city. Also [sc. attested is the
proverbial
phrase] "Datos of good things", where [there were] even gold mines.
Matched in translation
high
short
δ
92
Δάτος
Datos, Datus, Daton, Datum
A city of Thrace, exceptionally well-favored. From it comes the
proverb:
"Datos of good things". This city and the adjacent territory have names in both feminine and masculine.
Matched in translation
high
short
δ
110
Δαιδάλου ποιήματα
Daidalos' creations, Daedalus' creations
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to those pursuing skills with exactitude. [It arose] because the old craftsmen used to make the eyes closed, but Daidalos opened them, and spread the feet. And Homer …
Matched in translation
high
short
δ
174
Δεκάζεσθαι
to be bribed in tens
… themselves into groups of ten. This gave rise to the
proverb:
Lykos's Company of Ten. So from the Company of Ten came [the terms] bribing in tens and to be bribed in tens.
Matched in translation
high
medium
δ
795
Διὰ τοῦ τοίχου λαλεῖν
to talk through the wall
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to those doing something senselessly.
Matched in translation
high
short
δ
1055
Δικάζεσθαι Βίαντος τοῦ Πριηνέως κρείσσων
to litigate more powerfully than Bias of Priene
Also [sc. attested is] 'Prienian justice,' [sc. a
proverbial
phrase] in reference to those litigating with vigor.
Matched in translation
high
short
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