This etched landscape, created by the French artist Claude Lorrain (c. 1600-1682), features the ancient Greek myth of Europa, a princess from the lands...
This rather abstractly painted artwork, by the Norwegian artist Christian Krohg (c. 1852–1925), was inspired by the storied life of the historical figure, Olaf...
Constantine IV was a son and successor of Emperor Constans II of Constantinople (r. 641-668/669). Constans II, like many emperors of Roman and European...
Dante Alighieri (c. 1265-1321)
"He listens to good purpose who takes note."
Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy (Inferno, Canto XV), translated by Henry F. Cary in the Harvard...
This artwork, by the Norwegian artist Gerhard Munthe (1849–1929), is a depiction of the Norse god, Odin. The print features several key iconographic details...
This etched landscape, created by the French artist Claude Lorrain (c. 1600-1682), features the ancient Greek myth of Europa, a princess from the lands...
This painting, by the German artist Hans Thoma (c. 1839-1924), was inspired by the Sirens of ancient Greek myth. These mythological creatures were characterized...
Lucian of Samosata (c. 120-180+), in his satirical work Timon the Misanthrope, envisioned Wealth as a personified god. Wealth, as the account told, was...
The Bhagavad Gita (c. 2nd century BCE-2nd century CE)
"I have never
not existed;
nor have you, nor have
these lords of men.
Nor will we
cease to exist,
all of...
Pliny the Younger (c. 61/62-113), a wealthy Roman lawyer, bureaucrat, politician, and financial advisor, one day bought a certain bronze statue of a human...
John Jay (c. 1745-1829)
"The pride of states, as well as of men, naturally disposes them to justify all their actions, and opposes their acknowledging,...
Aeschylus (c. 525-456 BCE)
"What good are the oracles to men? Words, more words,
and the hurt comes on us, endless words
and a seer's techniques have...
Constantine IV was a son and successor of Emperor Constans II of Constantinople (r. 641-668/669). Constans II, like many emperors of Roman and European...
Virgil (c. 70-19 BCE)
"Man and beast, each and every race of earth,
creatures of the sea, domesticated animals, and birds in all their
finery,
all of them...
Lucian of Samosata (c. 120-180+), in his satirical work Timon the Misanthrope, envisioned Wealth as a personified god. Wealth, as the account told, was...
This rather abstractly painted artwork, by the Norwegian artist Christian Krohg (c. 1852–1925), was inspired by the storied life of the historical figure, Olaf...
Winston Churchill (c. 1874-1965)
"Fearthought is futile worrying over what cannot be averted or will probably never happen. Forethought is taking the best means at...
The Buddha (6th-5th centuries BCE)
"Win over an angry person with poise.
Win over a mean one with kindness.
Win over a greedy person with generosity,
and one...
The Buddha (6th-5th centuries BCE)
"If something is to be done,
one should proceed firmly.
The inattentive practitioner
is more scattered than the dust."
The Dhammapada (Verses on...
The two most widely recognized revolutionaries of the United States, save George Washington, are Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. Jefferson was a reserved man,...
(Public Domain sketch of Apuleius)
The Roman author, and minor regional statesman, Apuleius (125-180), is best known today for his hilarious book, The Golden Ass...
Joseph E. Johnston (Confederate General of the U.S. Civil War, lived 1807-1891)
"The Southern infantry had great advantage over the Northern in their greater familiarity...
Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BCE)
"Eloquence is the attendant of peace, the companion of ease and prosperity, and the tender offspring of a free and...
(“Examination of a witch”, c. 1853, from the Collection of the Peabody Essex Museum, originally by Author Thompkins H. Matteson, via Creative Commons)
Maria...
(Left:Apuleius, Center: Isis, Right:Donkey)
If you want to impress your friends and family with your knowledge of ancient writers, while also having a great time...
