The Seven Against Thebes

His resolve is not to seem, but to be, the best.

The gods! long since they hold us in contempt, Scornful of gifts thus offered by the lost! Why should we fawn and flinch away from doom?

In every enterprise is no greater evil than bad companionship.

Obedience is mother to success and is wedded to safety.

But you cannot speak of any glory for happenings that are at once evil and held in dishonor.

You have learned the lesson by experience.

Commander against commander, brother against brother, enemy against enemy, I will take my stand. Quick, bring my greaves to protect against spears and stones!

Let not a woman’s voice Be loud in council! for the things without, A man must care; let women keep within— Even then is mischief all too probable! Hear ye? or speak I to unheeding ears?

Where womankind has power, no man can house, Where womankind feeds panic, ruin rules Alike in house and city!