Greek Language Quotes

“But this discourse, expressed in our paternal language, keeps clear the meaning of its words. The very quality of speech and of the Egyptian words have in themselves the energy of the object they speak of.

Therefore, my king, in so far as you have the power (who are all powerful), keep the discourse uninterpreted, lest mysteries of such greatness come to the Greeks, lest the extravagant, flaccid and (as it were) dandified Greek idiom extinguish something stately and concise, the energetic idiom of usage. For the Greeks have empty speeches, O king, that are energetic only in what they demonstrate, and this is the philosophy of the Greeks, an inane foolosophy of speeches. We, by contrast, use not speeches but sounds that are full of action. (Chapter XVI)”
― Hermes Trismegistus, Hermetica: The Greek Corpus Hermeticum and the Latin Asclepius

“Eight, Rabban.” Simeon proceeded to list and define all eight words, focusing on philautia, unique to the Greek, meaning the love of oneself that is essential to the health of both mind and body.”
― Lin Wilder, My Name is Saul: A Novel of the Ancient World

“Homosexual,' generally used in scientific works is of course a bastard word. 'Homogenic' has been suggested, as being from two roots, both Greek, i.e., 'homos,' same, and 'genos,' sex.”
― Edward Carpenter, The Intermediate Sex: A Study Of Some Transitional Types Of Men And Women

“Soon the two men were chattering away sounding excited, they could only be discussing trivialities yet their voices, their gestures might lead the observer to suppose they were arguing about life and death. Such was the Greek manner of conversation.”
― Margaret Yorke, Mortal Remains

“I know the Greek phrase for “I’m sorry” to this day. Sorrow being central to the language.”
― Stephanie Cotsirilos, My Xanthi

“म्हणजे फक्त ए सोडला तर दुसरं कुठलंच इंग्रजी अक्षर त्यात सापडत नाही आणि ही म्हणे इंग्लिश मूळाक्षरांची आई!"

माझ्या वैतागावर सगळेच मोठमोठ्यानं हसले.

"हे काहीच नाही, "एक जण म्हणाला, "आमच्याकडे पाच ई आहेत."

"पाच?" मी आश्चर्यानं उद्‌गारले.

मराठीतल्या हस्व आणि दीर्घ या दोन 'इं'शी मुकाबला करताना नाकीनऊ येतात. या पंचकन्यांचा हल्ला कसा परतवायचा?”
― मीना प्रभू [Meena Prabhu], Greekanjali