Some of his patrons claimed divine descent , such as Diagoras of Rhodes , but Pindar considered men to be akin to gods if they realized their full potential : their innate gifts were divinely bestowed , and even then success depended on the gods ' active favour .
Some of his patrons actually claimed divine descent , such as Diagoras of Rhodes . 
 Those whose lineage was not so exalted could still reveal their likeness to the gods by realizing their full potential , since men 's innate gifts were divinely bestowed , though even then success depended on the gods ' active favour .