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Quote by Semonides

“One verse by the blind poet of Chios is indelible: 'The life of man is like a summer's leaf.' Yet few who hear these words take them into their heart, for hope is rooted in every youthful soul, the lovely flower of youth grows tall with color, life will have no end, or there is no place for growing old, for death; and while in health, no fear of foul disease. Poor fools! in islands of illusion, for men have but a day of youth and life. You few who understand, know when death is near the food you give your soul must be supreme.”

Quote by Semonides

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Semonides

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“I gave you wings to fly looming high and easy over unboarded sea and the entire earth. At every meal and banquet you will be present on the lips of guests. Graceful young men will sing of you in limpid lovely notes to the clean piping of the flutes. When you go under the dark vaults of earth to the mournful chambers of sad Hell, even when you lie dead you will not lose your glory. Your name will be recalled among men always, Kyrnos. You will wheel high over the mainland and Greek islands and cross the unharvested sea pulsing with fish, not by horse but carried to those who love you in the gifts of Muses capped in violet flowers. You will be like a song to the living as long as there is sun, earth. Yet you ignore me and trick me as if I were a child.”

“My nurse was the island of Tyros, and Attic land of Syrian Gadara was my birthplace. I was sired by Eukrates —I, Meleagros, friend of the Muses and first to waken to the Graces of Menippos. A Syrian? What if I am? Stranger, we all live in one country: the world. Out of one chaos were all men born. In my old age I traced these letters on the slab before my grave, knowing that old men are neighbors to death. Passerby, wish me well, the talkative old man, and you may also reach a loquacious old age.”