“Must we forsake the love of excellence, then, till every citizen feels it alike? I did not fight, Anytos, to be crowned where I have not run; but for a City where I can know who my equals really are, and my betters, to do them honour; where a man’s daily life is his own business; and where no one will force a lie on me because it is expedient, or some other man’s will.” The words seemed, as I spoke, to be my own thoughts that I owed to no one, only to some memory in my soul; but when I looked beyond the Stadium, to where they were kindling the lights on the High City in the falling dark, I saw the lamps of Samos shine through a doorway, and the wine-cup standing on the table of scoured wood. Then the pain of loss leaped out on me, like a knife in the night when one has been on one’s guard all day. The world grew hollow, a place of shadows; yet none would hold out the cup of Lethe to let me drink.”
Quote by Mary Renault
Book:The Last of the Wine
Work
The Last of the Wine
This historical novel explores themes of friendship, love, and the human condition through the eyes of a group of young Athenians as they navigate the complexities of war and political intrigue during the Peloponnesian War. more
Author
Mary Renault
Mary Renault was a British writer renowned for her historical novels, often set in ancient Greece. Her works, characterized by detailed portrayals of ancient Greek society and profound character development, have won her a wide readership. Renault's unique writing style has left a lasting impact on the genre of historical fiction. more
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