What makes one civil?

The Odyssey
BOOK 6: THE PRINCESS AND THE STRANGER

"Man of misery, whose land have I lit on now?
What are they here - violent, savage, lawless?
or friendly to strangers, god-fearing men?"

This was spoken by Odysseus, about Nausicaa and her friends, as they are playing ball near the riverbank in which he sleeps. It's interesting to know that religion was, at the time, the number one basis of what would be considered civilized.
Then again, religion, in this story, was a shocking reality. Athena actually might help you if you prayed and sacrificed to her - Zeus actually would make sure you get home safe. In this case, the logical choice would have to be to face the facts and believe in these gods.
Religion, also, made a lot of sense. It really is good to be hospitable, because it helps carry out the golden rule in a much more beneficial way. Religion and respect for the gods is a must in the Odyssey.

Aristocracy is facial

The Odyssey
BOOK 4: THE KING AND QUEEN OF SPARTA

"... Once you've dined
we'll ask you who you are. But your parents' blood
is hardly lost in you. You must be born of kings,
bred by the gods to wield the royal scepter.
No mean men could sire songs like you."

This might suggest that Telemachus and Pisistratus are clean-looking, not unkempt like peasants might be. Then again, I took from this that the aristocracy in Greece at the time was facially apparent, be that a good or bad thing. It's interesting that "blood" can be recognized.

A true hero

"Ah, great goddess,"  

worldly Odysseus answered, "don't be angry with me.

All that you say is true, how well I know,

Look at my wise Penelope. She falls far short of you,

your beauty, stature. She is mortal after all

and you, you never age or die...

Nevertheless I long-I pine all my days-

to travel home and see the dawn of my return.

And if a god will wreck me

.........................

This quote shows what it really means to be a hero. You must sacrifice pleasure and resist temptation to achieve 
a higher ideal, even if it means immense suffering and sorrow on the part of the hero. This is what Odysseus does, 
more than any other man, her suffers, spending decades away from his wife and child, fighting constantly to see 
them again and being faced with barrier after countless barrier. Yet he still faces them with a steady courage, 
taking every opportunity he can to make it home, even when it means leaving a paradise with a gorgeous goddess 
willing to make him immortal with his only hopes resting in  small boat that he had to build himself, and knowing 
full well that as soon as he was at sea, the gods would harass him further.

Words

"one kind word can warm three winter months"

- Japanese Proverb

Being Kind

"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible."

“I dream a painting, then I paint my dream”


- Vincent Van gogh

This quote represents desire. Anything is possible. If you can dream it you can do it is another quote that explains this one well. No matter how hard there dream is to paint don’t give up until it’s done. As long as you really want to achieve a goal it’s possible

Chasing a Dream

“You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream”

It doesn’t matter how old you are, you can achieve any goal you set your mind too. This quote tells you to never give up on something. If you work hard enough you can do anything you want. The harder you work the better the pay off will be. For example, if you work really hard in school this year it pays off in the long run. The harder you worked this year the better the school. Even when your older even retired if you have a dream you should always try and chase it because you never know what can happen. And if you fail so what, you get on with your life and try to succeed at another one of your dreams. Never give up it will pay off in the long run.

Making a Difference

“be the change you want to see in this world” by Mahatma Grandhi

This quote is used to inspire people and to really motivate people to make a difference in the world. Your not suppose to wait around and wait for someone to make a difference or help the world. You do it yourself to make are world a better place. If you have strong feeling about something you should always go with your heart. Never let anyone take what you want without a fight.

HERO

"As you get older, it is harder to have heroes, but it is sort of necessary"

To me this quote is somewhat true. When you’re younger it's very important that you have heroes to look up too. In my opinion when you get older you become your hero because you have idolized them your whole life. a hero teaches you how to handle situations. It is necessary to always have a hero because they are usually older and wiser than you. They give you ideas on how to solve problems.

"Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point."

- C.S. Lewis

a change in order

"Tend to your own tasks, the distaff and the loom, and keep the women working hard as well. As for giving orders, men will see to that, but I most of all: I hold the reins of power in this house."

-Prince Telemachus
Book 1 Athena Inspires the Prince
[348-78]

This point of the story, the prince is starting to take control of her mother's power as ruler. Without his father as king, Telemachus will take charge in his absent. Athena realised that her son is just like his father.

Prince Telemachus

"He won't be gone long from the native land he loves not even if iron shackles bind your father down. He's plotting a way to journey home at last; he's never at a loss."

-Prince Telemachus
Book 1 Athena Inspires the Prince
[197-226]

I admired this quote because it shows that his father never gives up and will somehow find a way back. Odysseus is believed to be dead, but his son doesn't believe so. Threatening the suitors that have come up to marry Athena, Telemachus's mother. This also starts up the rise of the prince into power, as he starting to become what his father had put upon his kingdom

Plato

“Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.”

-Plato

I really enjoyed this quote a fair amount cause it shows the difference between the ones persons say. Some people speak in order to form some sort of attention so others will notice them. This are people have no idea how to back up what they have to say or not even making sense. People who have an idea that possibly makes sense will speak and understand what the problem is. They speak because they have a assimilation of whats going on and they think about what the situation is, as opposed to someone who speaks without any knowledge whats so ever

Importance of Mythology

"Myths are public dreams, dreams are private myths."
-Joseph Campbell, American prolific author

"We can keep from a child all knowledge of earlier myths, but we cannot take from him the need for mythology."
-Carl Gustav, Swiss Psychiatrist

History

"History is written by the victors."

-Winston Churchill

The Ancient Greeks shaped the realities we currently live within. As one of the first civilizations, they were victorious in becoming pioneers of communication, philosophy, battle strategies, culture, art - including pottery and architecture among several others - and most famously known, their forms of government using democracy.
All of these things live on to this day. We use the English language which originated from Greek. We hear the words of their philosophers on a day-to-day basis and apply them to guide us through the obstacles of modern life. The ingenius ways they fought battles can be used in today's wars and their culture lives through the Olympics and mythical stories they told that can still teach us many of the same lessons. We can drive around our own communities and see the same methods of architecture - pillars, columns. And finally, their invention of democracy gives us the opportunity to live a free life without letting the government take away our ability to voice the way we think our society should be run. With the right to vote, we can't be led by tyrants and justice is allowed for all.
Each and every one of these contributions to our ways of life the Greeks have given us can be considered a victory on their behalves, therefore allowing them to be remembered for the rest of eternity.

Chaos...

"Chaos in the midst of chaos isn't funny, but chaos in the midst of order is."
Steve Martin, Comedian

Odysseus Held Captive

"Atlas' daughter it is who holds Odysseus captive, luckless man - despite his tears, forever trying to spellbind his heart with suave, seductive words and wipe all thought of Ithaca from his mind. But he, straining for no more than a glimpse of hearth-smoke drifting up from his own land, Odysseus longs to die ..."

Athena,
Book 1, lines 65-71
The Odyssey

Do myths accomplish their purpose?

Myths do accomplish there purpose and much more . Myths teach people about there culture and way of life . Also it teaches everyone about why the world is like this and what people had to overcome in order for us to be here today. (example why we have lighting and thunder is because of Zeus.) This applies to everyone not just one culture and that's why I believe myths accomplish there purpose.( They didn't want to focus on only one culture but to all)

Developing Courage

“You don't develop courage by being happy in your relationships everyday. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity.”

-Epicurus

This is a great quote for relationships that are in some sort of trouble. The meaning of this helps us realize that you have to fight and maintain your relationship, and to defeat the adversity that may come. All relationships are very difficult to keep blissful, you have to attempt to work though the difficult times that may soon come sometime. All relationships have roadblocks in life, and by solving your way threw this roadblocks, courage will develop and will be easier to nurture that bond for the future to come.

Hospitality in Greek Society

In Greek culture hospitality is not only important because Zeus is the God of hospitality and will literally kill you if you disappoint him, or sleep with your spouse. Also, because as we know from reading myths in which Zeus disguises himself to look like a swan and mortal man, that disguises are very common with the Gods. Since the Greeks are fully aware of this then they are very cautious and welcoming because they never know if the stranger knocking at their door could be a God in disguise. And for example, Telemachus, of the Odyssey was most definitely making the right move when he was so welcoming to Athena in the disguise of Mentes.

Key of Civilization

"The true civilization is where every man gives to every other every right that he claims for himself." Robert Ingersoll

This quote is like the key of The Civilization, that nobody seems to have understand yet. I think it is due to the fact that people always want to control others, so civilizations are never equals for anybody and can't last. Men always want a little more rights, or a little more freedom that their neigbours. They always want to control others rather than considering the peace of their own country or civilization.

Self Interest Vs. Common Good

"Not even the man who betrays his fatherland is more to be condemned than the man who deserts the common good for the sake of his personal good or security."

-Cicero (Classics in Translation; Volume II, Page168)



This type of statement-more so an emphasis on responsibility to others and the common good, than the state or country- is fairly prevalent in our society. It is expected that one put the needs of others before those of themselves. The problem is that this is unnatural for humans. We have been taught, forced, to look out for ourselves since the beginning of time. Darwinism is founded upon "survival of the fittest"; those who are best equipped to succeed will. Thus, it is not natural for us to sacrifice ourselves for the good of others; it takes courage to do so. I think most would agree that they would put the needs of their loved ones ahead of their own, if it was necessary. If an emergency situation came, I am certain many parents would put themselves in harm's way in front of their children. In everyday situations, many people follow their own agenda instead of adapting to those close to them, much less a random person. It is admirable, yet rare, when people such as firefighters truly sacrifice themselves for the good of strangers.

Irony of Life

"The supreme irony of life is that hardly anyone gets out of it alive." Robert Heinlein,

Are we slowly chipping away at civilization?

After reading the odysseys book one about how they are losing civilization at odyessus home it made me think. Are we as a society slowly chipping away at civilization i mean back then if you did a crime you would get sacrificed. But over the years we have been fighting these rules and actually winning forcing them to make the consequences less. Another example would be uniform years ago people would obey and not ask questions about why and how they must dress , but today at school people decide to choose against these rules and actually get away with it because its becoming a habit . If anyone in ancient Greece didn't fallow the rules they would probably be banished . That's why i believe we are chipping away at civilization.

The Value Of Myths

"For modern man, the Greek myths reflect the attitudes and priorities of the ancient cultures which produced them. Yet they are relevant today because many of these ancient social, ethical, and religious attitudes continue to be important." The Value of Myths

Is hospitaltiy still a fundamental in todays society?

In ancient Greece hospitality was a must and if you didn't obey Zeus would destroy you. The reason for this is because Zeus believe being generous and a great hostest would help you be a better and more appreciated God/Person. An example of the is in the odyssey when Prince Telemaachus is sitting there obsessed with grief and day dreaming , but yet he See's someone at the gates and he goes to greet her " Greetings, stranger! Here in our house you ll find a royal welcome. Have supper first then tell us what you need." This shows us that even though he is in depression he still wants to please his guests in order for them to be happy.

In today's society you would rarely have something like that happen and a prime example would be, if you have a stranger walk up to your door you would probably not get it but you would NEVER let them in. This just shows ancient Greece was a lot more friendly and trusting because of it being a fundamental back then.

Like Father, Like Son

"Few sons are equals of their fathers; most fall short, all too few surpass them. But you, brave and adept from this day on-Odysseus' cunning has hardly given out in you-there's every hope that you will reach your goal."
-Athena (The Odyssey; page 102, lines 309-313)

Athena spoke this to Telemachus to give him the confidence he needs to take down his mother's suitors and avenge his father's pride. Athena needs the suitors to be eliminated by the time Odysseus returns home so that he doesn't have to deal with them. Although Odysseus would most likely return home in a quiet manner-he is much more level-headed and modest than Agamemnon, who was killed by his wife's new lover-it would still be beneficial to have his house cleared. Telemachus, much like his father, relies on his cunning rather than violence and destruction to defeat his enemies. Athena can tell Telemachus has what it takes to defeat the suitors and become a man because of this cunning and the immediate hospitality-a trait of Zeus and one of the most important things in Greek culture- he shows her.

"Hence we will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks" Sir Winston Churchill

An other exemple of the dominance of the Greeks above the others civilisation. Even thousands years later, we still talk about it, like they was immortal.

"If it's true that violin is the most perfect of musical instruments, then Greek is the violin of human." Helen Keller

That prove the superiority of the Greeks above all the others civilisations. They are at the origin of a lot of great things in the evolution of the human being. Even if nothing intends Greece to become this powerful civilation, with ideas they built one of the more powerful of the Antiquity.

Is hospitality still a fundamental in todays society ?

Back in ancient Greece hospitality was a fundamental, the reason for this is because Zeus believed that this would make you a better god/person. In fact if you weren't a good hostest Zeus would destroy you. A great example is in the odyssey even though Prince Telemachus has a heart obsessed with grief and is day dreaming he See's someone standing at the door and goes to greet her " Greetings , stranger! here in our house you'll find a royal welcome . Have supper first , then tell us what you need." This shows us that even though he is in grief he tries to make the people around him comfortable .(1.81.125)



But in today society its not a must , a prime example would be if a strager came up to someones door today , they probably wouldnt even get it or if they did NEVER would they let them in. This just shows us in ancient Greece life was much more enjoyable and people would help eachother out , instead of today people only wanting to help themselves.

Midas'moral

"Aren't the gods saying that when we want something in excess of our needs, that wish has consequences that may lead to punishment and suffering ?" Midas's Myth

I like this myth, especially his moral. It's intersting because it has been write thousands years ago, and it's still true nowadays. It's like the human being didn't change, and didn't understand that they should be happy with what they have and stopping always want more than they have.

Hero

"If everybody was satisfied with himself there would be no heroes."

-Mark Twain

I believe this is a excellent choice because you have to think of the possibilitys that may occur if there weren't any heroes. If the world somehow was satisfied with everyday life and had no one to solve any problems, the world would have no use of heroes. People think heroes are men and women who fight demons or dragons in fairy tales, but new heroes can be like firefighters, police officers or even the army. If people had no need for these people, then whats the point of life. When Achilles fought in the Trojan Wars, He lead the Greeks into battle against the ancient city of Troy. He was satisfied with himself, having no need to fight in battle. When his cousin died, it gave him the will to fight.

Is it really fate, or just ironic?

In the odyssey Zeus is speaking about the story of Aegisthus death. This is a story about how a man Atrides went to war (Troy), and while at war his wife moved on and started a new life with a man named Aegisthus . When Atrides came home one day to surprise his wife , Aegisthus was at his home and decided as soon as he got in his home he would kill him.Even though he new it meant his own ruin he had still decided to do it. Later after this event Aegisthus was killed as revenge leading to the quote " Now he pays the price, all at a single stroke."(1.79.52)

Zeus then says "Ah how shameless , the way the mortals blame the gods" (1.78.37) . By saying this he is saying the mortals are blaming the gods even thou its really their own fault , They think its faith but really they can control it with the right decisions.

Common man's view

"Great nations write their autobiograpies in three manuscripts, the book of their deeds, the book of their words, and the book of their art."

Unfortunately for historians there is almost never any written record of the common man of the time. It is not like our age, where anyone with an opinion can spread his views around the world. Just like I am in this Blog.

'Great nations write their autobiographies in three manuscripts, the book of their deeds, the book of their words, and the book of their art.' John Ruskin

Example of CUNNING/metis

Both Polyphemus and his fellow cyclops were fooled by Odysseus' cunning, when they hear Polyphemus' distress they ask what is causing him such pain he says

"My friends, it is Nobody that is slaying me by guile and not by force."

Odysseus had the foresight to tell the Cyclops his name was Nobody, so that his brethren would not come to his aid.

OH the irony.

"They took the stake of olivewood, sharp at the point , and thrust it into his eye, while I, throwing my weight upon it from above, whirled it round...blood flowed round it, all hot as it was...so did his eye hiss round the stake of olivewood."

How ironic it is that the great cyclops Polyphemus should be blinded and brought so much pain by an object that is normally used to represent peace and harmony.

“It is easier to stay out than get out.” -Mark Twain

I thought this quote was really cool, because it makes a lot of sense. For example, if people stayed out of trouble, they did not had to go through problems to try to get out of it.

“The well bred contradict other people. The wise contradict themselves.” - Oscar Wilde

“Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

"It is not truth but opinion that can travel the world without a passport" - Sir Walter Raleigh



I really like this quote I found in The Ancient Mediterranean World book because, it reminded me of something Mr. Baker said in history class one time, that everything is biased and maybe a text it does not look like is bias but it still is a bit biased because everything is written with an opinion. I this is really clever how Sir Walter Raleigh says that is the opinion that travels, not truth, because maybe your opinion in something is a very good opinion and it may have perfect sense to you, but that does not make it true. Foe example you could think that the reason why when you throw a rock up to the sky and then comes down, its not gravety, and that is your opinion, but the truth is that it is because of gravety and you cannot change the truth.

"Who controls history, and how is written, controls the past, and who controls the past controls the present"
(page IX, The Ancient Mediterranean World)

I really believe this statement is true. History, is the study of the human past, therefore if we know it we can control it, but that does not mean that the information we recolected by study it, just apply to the past. Human will always be humans, being from this era or from 2,000 years ago. We will always have questions that we cannot answer, but looking back at man with more experience that strugled with questions as well or that got to answer them could and will help us, and therefore you will have control of your present studying the past.

"Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous." ~ Confucius, Chinese thinker and social philosopher

Connecting with a post that Hunter made (viewable here, click!), we can say that we must always be engaged and soak up knowledge that comes our way. In this quote from Confucius we learn that if we do not take in what we are learning then we are just simply wasting our time, and that if we think without any knowledge then we are dead. What good is life if we do not fully learn what we need to in order to survive, and what good is being ignorant? Theses are questions that lead us to ponder this quote and Hunter's quote. If we do not learn and take in knowledge from the valuable lessons we are given everyday then we are hopeless to survive in this world. If we do not learn but instead think without knowledge then we are simply being ignorant. We are then not living up to our full potential and so we must strive to first learn and then think.

Companionship

"Knowledge talks, wisdom listens." ~Unkown

Thanks for butting in Peace...

"Peace was an interruption of war" ~ Interviewee, An Empire Special: The Greeks, Crucible of Civilization

For the states surrounding Greece, and some of Greece itself, this statement remains true. Peace, was an interruption of war; when the cultures were at peace with one another, they were being interrupted. Specifically this can be said for Sparta. Their society; brought up to be soldiers, and militarily governed, the Spartans were all about war. Physically being the strongest military in the whole of the Greek region, Sparta was victorious in the battles they took part in. Since they lived purely on conflict and battle, it can be said that their society was at a stand still when there were no military acts or conflicts to engage in. Therefore, peace was an interruption of war.

Ideas vs. Bullets

"You can't kill ideas with bullets." ~ Jeremy Johnston

This interesting quote is brought to you by our own Jeremy Johnston. During our class discussion about the Greeks and their lasting civilization, Jeremy Johnston makes us think about the words written above. The Greek civilization and empire lasted as long as it did, solely because it was based upon ideals. For example, the war between Persia and Greece was a battle based on nothing more than two conflicting ideals; the Greeks had their emphasis on freedom while the Persians had theirs' on slavery. There was Greek victory. This alone is proof of how strong ideas really are. When a society, such as the Greek's, are so strongly united over a similar ideal, they are metaphorically indestructible. No matter the many conflicts that arose, this is what has allowed their civilization and culture to prevail against the crucible of time. Ultimately, their civilization cannot be defeated by even the greatest power, time, because they are so strongly united within the web of ideals.

the Foolishness of Midas

Was Midas too overwhelmed by the possibilities of his riches that he lost his moral values?

I believe he was because he was quick to decide on his wish. He didn't put time into considering the aftermath of his decision and thus ruined him. He lost his ability to touch his loved ones and even eat or drink. Its a wonder he fixed his decision as fast as he did, otherwise he would've gone pretty badly dehydrated and died. There's also the consideration that the value of gold would decline as it would be the new standard for material if it expanded as much as he could've. To make such a wish to begin with, his moral values must've already been corrupt, although the fact that he cried for his family meant that he did care about them which means he wasn't utterly overpowered by greed.

Midas just couldn't pass up the opportunity, but if he were more wise, and considered what would've been a right choice, he surely would've bettered the world around him instead of destroy it for himself.

Luck= someone who'd fail, succeeding

"We must believe in luck. For how else can we explain the success of those we don't like?"
-- Jean Cocteau

Yes. The degree to which this is true is great. There are always people in the world who we believe don't deserve the credit they, whether it be a celebrity or your friend. We complain how we ourselves are better than that phony. In the end, they may've just gotten lucky and luck never lasts forever. Maybe its a lucky, game-winning shot that rolled in at the last second after a moment on the rim that makes him the hero of the game. Or maybe its someone winning the loterry or someone who is sick for an audition and never got the part when someone who was garbage did. All of these are examples of how luck is a great way to describe those people and events that we don't like and thus is a necessary word in the vocabulary of modern society.

Is it Necessary to Learn?

"Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival."
-- W. Edwards Deming

Remember the past, it will help your future

"Those who can not remember the past are doomed to repeat it."
-- George Santayana

The truth to this quote is quite evident since in history, time and time again have events been known to repeat themselves. A great example of this is war because of land disputes and disagreement of ideals. This could include native's fighting for their land or free Greeks vs Persian slaves.
This can be translated to modern examples such as Bush invading Iraq. Some say he wanted oil, and others say he doesn't like the way they act; a culture disagreement. Either way, in the past this has been known to cause a negative impact on the world. It is part of being an American to have a reputation of believing that they're better than every other nation on the world however, that can make them seem like an adolescent. Clearly if they look at their past and realize what their forefathers had done to create a free country, continuing to fight seems a little counter productive and only makes people more angry.
Really, respecting the outcomes of events of the past can make a large impact on the future. Problems that still exist such as in a school environment, outdated teaching styles and VHS tapes in class are always complained about. The complaining could be expelled if the school had looked at the past and realised that students have always been complaining about something. That would mean a more up to date school with happier students and that results in a more efficient learning system. So all in all, let's not forget what the world has already seen when we try to be something in the future.

There's a Right Way and a Wrong Way for Everything

"It is possible to fail in many ways... while to succeed is only possible in one way."

--Aristotle

Two Sides of the Same Coin

“He who is to be a good ruler must have first been ruled.” - Socrates

I like this quote because it applies not only to the ruler concept, but many other things as well. Two big and well-known examples of this are one must experience sadness in order to find true happiness, and one must fail in order to succeed.

Does Evil Complement Good?

"There were moments when he looked on evil simply as a mode through which he could realise his conception of the beautiful."
-Oscar Wilde, "The Picture of Dorian Gray"

This is my second time quoting from this book, but I could really go on forever. "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde is my favourite novel, offering incredible insight into art, beauty, good, evil, sin, religion, and class.

This quote touches on an interesting philosophical concept. Could good and beauty exist without the parallel of evil and ugliness? Is it the contrast in which we discover true merit, the ability to compare that leads us to distinguish one from the other? I'm not a fan of philosophy and its roundabout tendancies, but this question intrigues me. I agree with the speaker of this quote. I believe that if we weren't aquainted with evil, then we could never appreciate the good in the world to its fullest extent.

"The World's Original Sin."

"Humanity takes itself too seriously. It is the world's original sin. If the cave-man had known how to laugh, History would have been different."
-Oscar Wilde, "The Picture of Dorian Gray"

Words of Wisdom

"Everything and everyone around you is your teacher."
-Ken S. Keyes

Carpe diem

The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything. -Theodore Roosevelt

I think that this quote says that by making mistakes you eventually learn from then. But from these mistakes you gain knowledge and experience as well. Therefore by never making mistakes and going through life being safe and perfect you never learn of consequences. Sometimes you even gain a life lesson out of it as well. 

A child miseducated is a child lost. -John F. Kennedy

I completely believe in this statement because later on in life once your through school and out from under your parents wing it will be their education and training that will get them far. If a child has grown up within a schooling system and been taught wrong, there is the possibility of failing in life. Fake marks only get you so far before you come to realize that you've really learnt nothing. 

Knowledge: The last suriving weapon

Knowledge is power. -Francis Bacon

I found this quote to be true, because when all material objects have vanished and all you have left is your mind, it is your previous knowledge that will gain you power. Such as knowing in advance what your enemy is about to do, you can use your knowledge to overcome them. 

"Many cities of men he saw and learned their minds"

-The Odyssey

I think that this line is significant because it shows how to overcome different aspects of a city in a way. Because to overcome your enemy you must defeat them, and to defeat them is to beat them at their own game. It shows that he is observant and cunning. 

Sheeps can not beat me!

"I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep lead by lions"

-Alexander III of Macedon (356-323 bce.)

Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great, the king of Macedon who created one of the worlds largest empires in history. I think the quote is intresting but I dont agree with it. Perhaps its just me but if i was agaisnt an army of sheep I'd be relived, even if the lion leader guy could raise the spirits of his subjects there is only so much they can do. An army of lions even with a poor leader could still win from pure power. I see the message he is trying to portray and in many cases its true but a bit warped, such as the 300 spartans versus the 1,000,000 persians however its not the same situation. I belive he is correct to an extent.... however he could have chosen a diffrent animal to be a bit more convincing

1492.

1492. As children we were taught to memorize this year with pride and joy as the year people began living full and imaginative lives on the continent of North America. Actually, people had been living full and imaginative lives on the continent of North America for hundreds of years before that. 1492 was simply the year sea pirates began to rob, cheat, and kill them.

Kurt Vonnegut

The Paradox of Laws

When men are pure, laws are useless; when men are corrupt, laws are broken.

Benjamin Disraeli

LIFE

"I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 96% how i react to it."
- Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus (235-183 bce.)
(Africanus was added after he defeated Hannibal in Cathage)

Scipio Africanus was a general in the Second Punic War agasint Carthage and was the statesman of the Roman Republic. I think this quote is intresting, because I agree with it. I think it all depends on if you consider the way you have been rasied as life or a reaction to life because if you act in a way because you were rasied that way that would be a reaction to life, therefor the majority of your life would be reactions. However if the way you were raised was already a reaction to life... then everything you do would be considered life, if you know what i mean.

I couldnt get a picture of him but his bust is carved in black stone to represent the people of africa he destroyed the other picture that I did get to work was him in armour ready to fight

Flaws of Democracy

It's not the voting that's democracy, it's the counting.

Tom Stoppard

This quote shows how incredibly advanced the Greek people were. Not only did they have the idea of democracy down, there was also very little cheating in the vote counting. (although of course they did cheat many times) Because democracy was good for all the people, cheating was generally eliminated because there was not nearly as much discontent as there is in most governmental systems.

It also shows how easily democracy can fall though, if the counter decides to take control of the state, then there is nothing that the people can do about it.

Freedom vs. Opression

Until and unless you discover that money is the root of all good, you ask for your own destruction. When money ceases to become the means by which men deal with one another, then men become the tools of other men. Blood, whips and guns--or dollars. Take your choice--there is no other.

Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

I feel like this quote really sums up the difference between the Greeks and the Persians and why it was that the Greeks were able to beat them every time. The Greek people wanted to find a solution to protect their freedom, but the the Persians had nothing to lose in losing the battle because they had no freedom to begin with. They had nothing to fight for, other than fear of death and punishment. After years of that though, they begin to stop caring and that is why all oppressive dictators are doomed to fail.

Giant Nations with Giant Issues

"In a state where corruption abounds, laws must be very numerous"

-Publius Cornelius Tacitus (56-117 ce.)

Tacitus was a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire. I thought it was funny when I saw this because in law we had just talked about the size of the Roman Empire and thats why it had need for lawiers, because of the many laws. So I'd assume with an empire roughly two thirds of the United States you would have a need for many laws because of corruption, for a nation of 10 people 1 may be corrupt and a nation of 100,000 perhaps 100. So reading this quote wasnt suprising in any way but I did find it intresting.

Silence

“History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.”

- Martin Luther King Jr.

Often we are so afraid of the repurcussions that we don't speak out, that we don't take a stand. Those who make a stand are remembered and memorialized - they create our societies and they shape our world. To stand complacent is to fade into the background. Stand for what you believe in and speak out.

Fear from within

" Fishes live in the sea, as men do on land: the great ones eat up the little ones"

- Pericles (495-429 bce.)

<-------(that guy)

This quote was written by Pericles, an influential statesman, orator and general of Athens during the city's Golden Age. This quote to me is a symbol of the times, by this point Athens was out of any major conflict and was moving its way into becoming a super power. Society wasnt as tightly knit as it was during the war with Persia, so this quote explains that people with power have no problems in getting rid of smaller players to keep them in the game, so to speak. I thought it was intresting that people have quotes like this so soon after major battles where the nation as a whole had to work together.

Written

History will be kind to me for I intend to write it

- Winston Churchill

I found this quote humourous simply because we all have heard the stories told about Winston Churchill - they don't often bathe him in a favourable light. Often they show him as this rude, arrogant man who was brilliant. He did write history, and yet he is still not painted in a wholly favourable way.

Will Our Civilization Succeed?

"In a sense, civilization as a way of life is still in the experimental phase. We do not know whether it will be as succesful in the long run as the hunting and gathering existence that sustained our ancestors for most of human history."
-The Ancient Mediterranean World (Page 3)

This quote is odd because it seems as if our civilization and way of life-more so Eastern than Western-has been around for a while. There are buildings in Asia and Europe that are thousands of years old; artwork and literature that have sustained the test of time. Just think, however, about the millions of years that came before now. From dinosaurs to the ice age to cavemen, we are in the midst of a natural progression of societal changes. In the relative future, it appears as if this civilization will sustain itself. Civilizations that looked insurmountable have failed-the Romans and Mayans come to mind-but those are certain ethnic groups, not a universal way of life.

To Live and Die

"Machiavelli, according to the popular view, although this is disputed at least in part by most Machiavelli scholars, held that people were by nature untrustworthy, malevolent and self-serving, and thus those in power could only maintain their position through exploitative and deceitful actions"
-Wikipedia

Niccolo Machiavelli was an Italian philosopher, diplomat, writer, and civil servant among other things. He was brought to fame in part because of his short literary piece, Il Principe (The Prince), which described the strategy of gaining political power. His views, as stated by the quote, are that people are naturally self-serving and duplicitous. His belief is that one is responsible for their own destiny and must achieve it by any means necessary, no matter the consequences-unintended or otherwise-that befall others. This view is generally perceived as selfish and wrong in our society; so much so that Machiavellianism has become one of the negative three personality traits known as "The Dark Triad" along with narcissism and psychopathy. His views are most likely a result of his experience in politics. He clearly experienced treachery and lying; therefore leading him to this conclusion. It may not have been what he wanted, it was more likely what he felt was necessary. This is a somber view, however I do not think Machiavelli should be judged for it. It was the world that he lived in and the way he chose to act.

Machiavelli was studied most famously-in pop culture at least-by rapper Tupac Shakur while he was in prison. Tupac could relate to Machiavelli because of the deceit he had experienced and the solidarity of prison life. He released The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory under the alias "Makaveli". This was his darkest album; expressing raw emotion and anger, the traits he perceived of Machiavelli.

There is also an urban myth that Machiavelli faked his own death. This, along with the image of Tupac being crucified and the album being recorded just weeks before his murder, is a major factor in the ongoing debate as to whether or not Tupac did the same.

Laugh now, guys

The Odyssey.
BOOK 1: ATHENA INSPIRES THE PRINCE

Lines 184-192
"Look at them over there. Not a care in the world,
just lyres and tunes! It's easy for them, all right,
they feed on another's goods and go scot-free -
a man whose white bones lie strewn in the rain somewhere,
rotting away on land or rolling down the ocean's salty swells.
But that man - if they caught sight of him home in Ithaca,
by god, they'd all pray to be faster on their feet
than richer in bars of gold and heavy robes."

Said by Prince Temelachus to Athena (in the form of or posing as "Mentes")
about the suitors who are trying to forge their way into the family whilst Odysseus is gone.
They laugh and play now, but they wouldn't stand a chance against Odysseus.
Maybe this is foreshadowing, that maybe they'll get what's coming to them.

Gods doling out misery onto mortals..

The Odyssey.
BOOK 1: ATHENA INSPIRES THE PRINCE (pg 78-79)

Line 7-8
"But he could not save them from disaster, hard as he strove -
the recklessness of their own ways destroyed them all..."

In reference to Odysseus not being able to save his comrades from disaster.
Natural disaster? Recklessness? Oopsie, I caused a tornado again.
I'm hoping "disaster" means something recklessness actually can cause.

Line 37-40
"Ah how shameless - the way these mortals blame the gods.
From us alone, they say, come all their miseries, yes,
but they themselves, with their own reckless ways,
compound their pains beyond their proper share."

I'm guessing Poseidon's bringing Odysseus misery would be considered "his proper share", since Poseidon is a god, and gods provide a reasonable amount of misery to the mortals.
Then I read that Odysseus blinded the Cyclops, Poseidon's son, which may be considered recklessness, if it had no good reason behind it. Gods don't really listen to reason anyway, do they? I suppose doing something that might hurt a god would grant yourself a decade of misery. Good thinking, Odysseus.

The Thirst for Knowledge

“…understanding gives great pleasure not just to philosophers but similarly to everyone else though their capacity may be limited for it”– Aristotle, Poetics

Short-Term Happiness

“Assuredly, when we have found such wealth in heaven, we may well grieve to have sought after poor passing pleasures here on earth.” – Jerome, Letters

We will never know if this quote is true or not due to the fact that no one can ever speak to us from heaven, if there even is one. Yes, the latter part of the quote is true, because in life all of us contemplate poor decisions and/or wasted valuable time. We may not realize that these things were “poor passing pleasures” until we are of old age. This usually happens because we become more experienced and wiser as we grow older. We do grieve over wasting valuable time in life. For example, when people are very old, they often say “I wish I hadn’t done this/ I wish I could have done this,” meaning that they wasted valuable time on something that wasn’t of value, or they did not give time to what was of value in retrospect. The second thing this quote is saying is that the things we have on earth are only of temporary value. Even if they are pleasurable for a certain amount of time, we will never find true and permanent happiness until we reach heaven or a higher degree of life, if there really is one.

Our Own Odysseys

"I am a part of all that I have met."
-Alfred Tennyson, "Ulysses"

The poem "Ulysses" by Tennyson is an account of Odysseus' (or Ulysses') life, told by the hero himself. I've known this poem for a while, and ever since I first read it, one line in particular has stayed with me. "I am a part of all that I have met", Odysseus claims.
Starting to read "The Odyssey" and being familiar with the story, I know that Odysseus' life was characterized by adventures, voyages, and tribulations. The extent of his "odyssey" isn't echoed in most peoples' lives, but this statement is true for all people. We don't need to be heroes or adventurers like Odysseus to be shaped by external forces. The events we live through and the places we go affect us all, imprinting themselves in our being and molding us into what we ultimately become. Odyssus himself is everyman in this sense, shaped by his circumstances, a part of all that he has met.

To Sum it Up

“…life is one long struggle in the dark.” – Lucretius, "On the nature of things"

The Importance of the Golden Mean

“Daedalus represented the golden mean in Greek thinking…reasonable and moderate”

I think that the golden mean is one of the most important ideas taken from ancient Greek civilization that is still used in society today. It applies to many different aspects of life. Yes, we do have to take risks sometimes, but the message is that one must not go overboard. Daedalus is the perfect example of what can happen if one is reasonable in their thinking. He was able to become a very well rounded person by trying new things, but not too fast, or all at once. Icarus, on the other hand, tried to do too much too quickly. The golden mean is an inspiring idea, and I think that if we moderate our risk taking and spend time to properly think things through instead of trying to do too much at once, all of us can become successful people who contribute to society and achieve great things. Nevertheless because of human nature, we will always want to do more, have more, and take big risks because of the thrill and emotion. Also, sometimes people must take drastic risks in life in order to improve their poor living status.

On the other hand, it is not good to not take any risk at all in life. The golden mean just wants us to moderate these risks, and I interpret this as taking risks on a "smaller scale". The quote "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take," by Wayne Gretzky, relates to this. I look at this quote for inspiration when it comes to taking risks regarding "smaller scale" things such as sports and academics.

The Nature of Genius

"Genius must burst on the ordinary air, native and untaught, and it must instantly convert all those who behold it."

-J. Bronowski and B. Mazlish

The Western Intellectual Tradition

Nicely Put, Sir

"You can't kill ideas with bullets"- Mr. Johnston

Mr. Johnston came up with this gem of a statement during our class today, and I was extremely impressed because I feel it accurately defines the reason that some civilizations, such as Greece, experienced such longevity while others faded into obscurity.

Greece was an innovative, revolutionary civilization. Everything from philosophy to mathematics, from architecture to military strategies, can trace its roots back to ancient Greece, where exploration into such fields flourished. Concepts such as democracy perpetuate the Greek significance in modern day society. So omnipresent was Greek innovation that mere warfare could not conquer Greece; the civilization lives on to this day. Civilizations that are united by vicissitudes and inventions do not crumble as easily as those that have no unifying factors or lasting influence. The great ideas that civilizations such as Greece have lent the world have not died through invasions, combat, or shifts in government, proving that ideas truly cannot be killed with bullets; civilizations achieve greatness through their ideas that survived the test of time.

Time and History

The charm of history and its enigmatic lesson consist in the fact that, from age to age, nothing changes and yet everything is completely different.

- Aldous Huxley

History is constantly changing, being altered, and yet a phrase such as "History repeats itself" is uttered everyday. Wars are fought for the same reasons, speeches are given that mimic the ones from the past and yet each of them add something new and different to life and our surroundings. They are the same but different. This is where the charm becomes part of it, in the fact that we can see the past repeat and yet everytime it repeats there are new eccentricities.

"The city of Sparta came to embody the ideal of the hoplite polis although it was unusual in several ways."

( Greek Civillization: Hellas and Hellenism, Page 64)

Depending on how you look at this quote, you may have a variety of ways to interpret it. If you've seen the movie 300 then you probably understand the way its supposed to be understood. These people, having strong militaristic focuses while retaining equality amongst their citizens, were a fear of all other Greek polis's. Aside from the battlefield, they dominated the olypmics and uniquely had the most privlidged women in Greece. Obviously, these people did something right: is it that they were more community based than other polis's? Probably.

The text also mentions that the Spartan people supported strong conservative values. In the long run, this way of life is probably why these people died out since staying with traditions has no chance against evolving technology and tactics. However, while they lasted, they accomplished many feats and had an impressive reputation. This factor allows us to say that there are benifits to retaining the past rather than focus on the future. Their way of life may have sucked but it certainly got them somewhere.

Compared to other city-states, like Athens, for example, had nowhere near the same equality sense that Sparta had. Spartan boys as young as seven began their training in groups known as packs. Even today, modern militaries around the world emulate this tactically benificial component to strengthen the bonds between the peers they fight alongside with, although they don't force seven-year olds into service. If Athens had this policy with its people, surely Greece would've been a world power. The downside to that is that democracy may never have surfaced.

Spartans were a dominant race amongst equals and it was their conservative views and discipline that allowed them to become who we know them as today. They certainly represented the ideals of a Greek polis and that is likely a factor when considering their high standing above the other polis's of the time.

Hamlet Soliloquy

O, God, a beast, that wants discourse of reason
Would have mourned longer - married with my uncle,
My father's brother, but no more like my father
Than I to Hercules.

Hamlet. (I.ii.152-155.)

Telling Tales

"It is the Dark Age that the exceptionally rich mythic culture of the Greek world first developed"
-The Ancient Mediterranean World (Greek Civilization: Hellas and Hellinism, pg 57)

This quote does not make sense when you first look at it. How could culture develop in a time period that lacked any remnants of literature, art, or music. The mythic culture developed because of the oral traditions of Greek people. Instead of writing things down-partially because of the lack of literacy or supplies-citizens told myths and tales through speech. Stories were passed down through generations of families.

When a cultural rennisance emerged in the Archaic Period, authors and poets such as Homer began to write myths down. Two of Homer's poems, Illiad and Oddysey were a couple of the first great pieces of literature. Greek mythology surely would not have become as well known or powerful without the written element-something that Homer is greatly responsible for- however it is because of the telling of myths and the fact that they changed ever so slightly each time they were told that Greek mythology has its mystique.

For Those who Covet Inspiration

"We can't all be heroes, because somebody has to sit on the curb and applaud when they go by."
-Will Rogers

This quote has the possibility to strike you in two ways: you can think "That's crazy! Everyone can be a hero" or you can think "Actually, that makes a bit of sense". It is true that everyone can be someone else's hero, but for the most part this exists on a much smaller scale, like a dad idolized by his young son. It is indisputable that "average" or "everyday" people can inspire us all through things like battling cancer, saving a baby from a fire, or investing their time in a worthwhile charitable cause. These "heroes" are certainly out there.

However, I don't believe these are the heroes that Rogers somberly speaks of. He talks of politicians, artists, scholars, and athletes; those who have contributed on a larger scale (in his opinion) to society. There must be those who watch and idolize, rather than take action, in order for heroes to exist. Do you think Che Guevara could have led the Cuban Revolution and become a national hero if he did not have any followers? Certainly not. It is not meant to discourage ambition, but there are people that are meant to lead and people who are meant to follow. We are always preached leadership, but who will we lead if there are no followers. There are people who have become heroes by their own accord; think of Heracles or Tiger Woods. The thing is: if everyone tried completing the Twelve Labours or winning the Masters there would be no spectators, just competitors.

Rogers's quote might come across as negative or discouraging, but I see it merely as an observation of a society that craves the next big thing, someone to insipire them and launch them out of a life of mundaneness, if even for a minute.

Varied Women's Rights

Ancient Mediterranean World

"...Those who defended the city in war also had full rights of participation in its constitution. Women could not be citizens in this sense..." pp. 62

"Spartan women were famous (or notorious) for having more freedom than the women of other cities...received an education similar to that of boys..." pp. 65

"...authors wrote of homosexual love...the passionate and erotic dimensions of love that they celebrated were to be found here, and not in heterosexual love leading to marriage...dancing in Sappho's chorus was also an important rite of passage; living apart from men and bonding with their peers...could be intense and even erotic in nature..." pp. 68-69

"...the conventions of Greek society, which accepted male nudity in public but jealously guarded the sexuality of respectable women and girls." pp. 71


I don't have much to expand on this, since it's self explanatory. I am aware that every city is run differently and this age allowed for such variety. I just wanted to physically point out just how varied this age is from page to page - from "jealously guarding female sexuality" to the "celebration of homosexual love". How colourful.

Heroes Never Settle For Average

"If everybody was satisfied with himself there would be no heroes"- Mark Twain

This is true to heroes because average is never good enough for them. Average is for people who believe that they can't be a hero or that its a job for someone else to be one. Heroes don't think of them selves as heroes because they strive for excellence no matter what profession they do as long as they have the right attitude to do it in a great way. By making it a realization that your not cut out to be a hero is the wrong attitude. As long as you try your hardest and go above and beyond what is asked of then you are a hero and therefore you are never satisfied because there is always another task to be brought upon you. For example leaders of great countries are heroes because they never give up in what they believe in and try to make lives better for people around them; definitely not average.

The words of our own Jeremy Johnston...

"Potential is Irrelevant" ~ Jeremy Johnston

These words spoken by one of our own, Jeremy Johnston, are wake-up words, if I do say so myself. Telling his class about the use of potential and what it means to be a student, his words made me really think about what he means. By saying what he did about potential, he means that no matter who you are, no matter your intellectual level or grade, no one will ever get anywhere and be good at something if they don't work for it and make their potential grow into becoming applied skill and knowledge. Even if you do have a natural talent at something, say hockey, you won't become any better or become great unless you work for it and truly want it. Johnston states that turning your potential into growth is something that Michael Jordan did. He practiced and practiced and he got better when he put his potential into action.
Therefore, we will get nowhere and become nothing if we cannot succeed or don't try to put our potential into action.

"Ignorant Shepherds"

"[Allan] Bloom's book [The Closing of the American Mind] is a profound book, full of rewards to the attentive reader because of the richness of his thought and the clarity, energy, and wit of his writing. Near the end he offers a poignant metaphor of where we now stand in relation to the great tradition of human learning:

'We are like ignorant shepherds living on a site where great civilizations once flourished. The shepherds play with the fragments that pop up to the surface, having no notion of the beautiful structures of which they were once a part. All that is necessary is a careful excavation to provide them with life-enhancing models.'"

from Robert Nielsen's essay/book review, "The Closing of the (North) American Mind"

“Old myths, old gods, old heroes have never died. They are only sleeping at the bottom of our mind, waiting for our call..."

Obviously in life, we look up to certain people for inspiration to accomplish certain things. The basic idea of this quote is that we always remind ourselves of the great ones that have lived before us, and the things they have done which inspire us to achieve. Without the heroes to look up to and without the great things they have done we wouldn’t be the advanced race we are today. There is a cycle of inspiration because there is always someone before us who we look up to and want to be like. The deeper meaning of this quote is that everyone is a hero. I think “they are only sleeping…” represents the fact that we all have a hero inside of us that is waiting to be unleashed. This is because our individual self and consciousness are part of the collective consciousness of mankind. This quote is saying that if no one was a hero before us, we wouldn’t be able to release the hero inside of ourselves. In conclusion, I think this quote is saying that in life, the reason we can all become heroes is because of the fact that we can look up to all the great people before us for inspiration and motivation.