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Quote by Edith Hamilton

Work

The Greek Way

Published in 1930, The Greek Way by Edith Hamilton delves into the essence of Greek culture, highlighting its contributions to philosophy, drama, sculpture, and governance. Hamilton analyzes key figures like Socrates, Plato, and Pericles, illustrating how their ideas established foundational principles of Western society. The book underscores the Greeks' emphasis on reason, beauty, and civic responsibility, while reflecting on how these ideals persist in contemporary life. Through accessible prose, Hamilton bridges the ancient and modern worlds, offering readers a lens to appreciate the timeless relevance of Greek heritage. more

Author

Edith Hamilton
Edith Hamilton

Edith Hamilton, an American renowned classical literature author, was born on August 12, 1867, and passed away on May 31, 1963. Her works, which introduce classical literature in an accessible manner, have been well-received by readers. more

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“It was a good answer that was made by one who when they showed him hanging in a temple a picture of those who had paid their vows as having escaped shipwreck, and would have him say whether he did not now acknowledge the power of the gods, — ‘Aye,’ asked he again, ‘but where are they painted that were drowned after their vows?’ And such is the way of all superstition, whether in astrology, dreams, omens, divine judgments, or the like; wherein men, having a delight in such vanities, mark the events where they are fulfilled, but where they fail, though this happens much oftener, neglect and pass them by.”

“If logic and reason, the hard, cold products of the mind, can be relied upon to deliver justice or produce the truth, how is it that these brain-heavy judges rarely agree? Five-to-four decisions are the rule, not the exception. Nearly half of the court must be unjust and wrong nearly half of the time. Each decision, whether the majority or minority, exudes logic and reason like the obfuscating ink from a jellyfish, and in language as opaque. The minority could have as easily become the decision of the court. At once we realize that logic, no matter how pretty and neat, that reason, no matter how seemingly profound and deep, does not necessarily produce truth, much less justice. Logic and reason often become but tools used by those in power to deliver their load of injustice to the people. And ultimate truth, if, indeed, it exists, is rarely recognizable in the endless rows of long words that crowd page after page of most judicial regurgitations.”