Whether the side on which I now find myself is the future victor or the future victim is not the issue here. But I know that if my friend tastes the sweet fruits of victory, this planet will be improved according to plan for centuries - but woe to him who lives to see this happen. But what destruction will bring no freedom . . . . When . . . I will repeat all this that I have written as my defense.
Many people spend their entire lives collecting stamps or old coins, or growing tulips.
I am sure that Zeus will be merciful toward people who have given themselves entirely to these hobbies, even though they are only amusing and pointless diversions. I felt that if I did not use that gift my poetry would be tasteless to me and fame detestable. That's why poetry is rightly said to be dictated by a daimonion,though it's an exaggeration to maintain that he must be an angel. It's hard to guess where that pride of poets comes from,when so often they're put to shame by the disclosure of their frailty. There was a time when only wise books were readhelping us to bear our pain and misery.