Aristophanes

Playwright

Aristophanes was an ancient Greek comic playwright of classical Athens and the most important surviving representative of Old Comedy. His plays, including The Clouds, Lysistrata, and The Frogs, are key sources for Athenian political and social life.

Books by Aristophanes

The Frogs of Aristophanes

A Greek Comedy
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The Birds of Aristophanes. Translated Into English Verse, with Introduction, Notes, and Appendices. By Benjamin Hall Kennedy
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Wealth
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Quotes by Aristophanes

Lysistrata: To seize the treasury; no more money, no more war.
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Magistrate: May I die a thousand deaths ere I obey one who wears a veil!Lysistrata: If that's all that troubles you, here take my veil, wrap it round your head, and hold your tounge. Then take this basket; put on a girdle, card wool, munch beans. The War shall be women's business.
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Magistrate: What do you propose to do then, pray?Lysistrata: You ask me that! Why, we propose to administer the treasury ourselvesMagistrate: You do?Lysistrata: What is there in that a surprise to you? Do we not administer the budget of household expenses?Magistrate: But that is not the same thing.Lysistrata: How so – not the same thing?Magistrate: It is the treasury supplies the expenses of the War.Lysistrata: That's our first principle – no War!
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Chorus of old men: If we give them the least hold over us, 'tis all up! their audacity will know no bounds! We shall see them building ships, and fighting sea-fights like Artemisia; nay if they want to mount and ride as cavalry, we had best cashier the knights, for indeed women excel in riding, and have a fine, firm seat for the gallop. Just think of all those squadrons of Amazons Micon has painted for us engaged in hand-to-hand combat with men.
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There is no beast, no rush of fire, like woman so untamed. She calmly goes her way where even panthers would be shamed.
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MAGISTRATEDon't men grow old?LYSISTRATANot like women. When a man comes homeThough he's grey as grief he can always get a girl.There's no second spring for a woman. None.She can't recall it, nobody wants her, howeverShe squanders her time on the promise of oracles,It's no use...
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If it is necessary for us to do anything [in view of peace], direct us and architect.πρὸς τάδ' ἡμῖν, εἴ τι χρὴ δρᾶν, φράζε κἀρχιτεκτόνει.
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You [demagogues] are like the fishers for eels; in still waters they catch nothing, but if they thoroughly stir up the slime, their fishing is good; in the same way it's only in troublous times that you line your pockets.
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[Y]ou possess all the attributes of a demagogue; a screeching, horrible voice, a perverse, crossgrained nature and the language of the market-place. In you all is united which is needful for governing.
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What can you answer? Now be careful, don't arouse my spite, Or with my slipper I'll take you napping,faces slappingLeft and right.
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To win the people, always cook them some savoury that pleases them.
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Open your mind before your mouth
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[Y]ou [man] are fool enough, it seems, to dare to war with [woman=] me, when for your faithful ally you might win me easily.
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High thoughts must have high language.
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[Y]ou [man] are fool enough, it seems, to dare to war with [woman=] me, when for your faithful ally you might win me easily.
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High thoughts must have high language.
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To win the people, always cook them some savoury that pleases them.
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Chorus of old men: If we give them the least hold over us, 'tis all up! their audacity will know no bounds! We shall see them building ships, and fighting sea-fights like Artemisia; nay if they want to mount and ride as cavalry, we had best cashier the knights, for indeed women excel in riding, and have a fine, firm seat for the gallop. Just think of all those squadrons of Amazons Micon has painted for us engaged in hand-to-hand combat with men.
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What can you answer? Now be careful, don't arouse my spite, Or with my slipper I'll take you napping,faces slappingLeft and right.
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There is no beast, no rush of fire, like woman so untamed. She calmly goes her way where even panthers would be shamed.
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