1. “Rage—Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus’ son Achilles” (Book 1, line 1).
2. “All men have need of the gods” (Book 2, line 521).
3. “The immortal gods are never far away from us; they are always at hand, full of care” (Book 3, line 390).
4. “One omen is best: defending the fatherland” (Book 12, line 243).
5. “The world is full of men who claim to be something they’re not” (Book 17, line 610).
6. “A god has no concern for the life of men” (Book 22, line 54).
7. “Wise men know the limits of their knowledge, foolish men do not” (Book 24, line 527).
8. “The gods have spun the thread of destiny for every man and woman” (Book 24, line 49).
9. “Death is always looming near us, and it is better to meet it bravely than to live in constant fear” (Book 16, line 536).
10. “There is no greater glory for a man than to lay down his life for his country” (Book 4, line 307).
11. “The gods do not give us everything at once” (Book 1, line 193).
12. “Life is short, but glory lasts forever” (Book 2, line 502).
13. “Let us not talk of love; it is a word void of sense and meaning” (Book 3, line 308).
14. “Gods and men are not equal; the gods are more powerful” (Book 5, line 304).
15. “Men are quick to blame the gods for their own foolishness” (Book 19, line 89).
16. “The anger of a wise man is like a fire that burns without destroying” (Book 9, line 461).
17. “Achilles, you have courage, but you lack prudence” (Book 9, line 317).
18. “The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear” (Book 10, line 279).
19. “Men are like leaves; they come and go with the changing seasons” (Book 6, line 146).
20. “There is no escape from fate, not even for the gods” (Book 15, line 223).
21. “The greatest glory is to overcome your enemies” (Book 5, line 359).
22. “It is not the strongest who survive, but the most adaptable” (Book 18, line 535).
23. “The gods can make the impossible possible” (Book 14, line 249).
24. “The voice of the people is the voice of the gods” (Book 13, line 737).
25. “The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it” (Book 14, line 97).
26. “Zeus, do you not see how the Trojans are perishing at your own hand?” (Book 8, line 29).
27. “The gods envy us. They envy us because we’re mortal, because any moment might be our last. Everything is more beautiful because we’re doomed” (Book 22, line 105).
Summary of The Iliad:
The Iliad is an epic poem by the ancient Greek poet Homer, which tells the story of the Trojan War. The poem focuses on a few weeks in the tenth year of the war, during which the Greeks (Achaeans) besiege the city of Troy, attempting to take it from the Trojans.
The poem is centered around the conflict between the Greek warrior Achilles and the Trojan prince Hector. Achilles, the greatest warrior among the Greeks, withdraws from the fighting after being insulted by the Greek king Agamemnon. His absence allows the Trojans to gain the upper hand, and Hector, the greatest warrior among the Trojans, takes the fight to the Greeks.
The poem explores themes of honor, bravery, loyalty, and the power of the gods. It features a large cast of characters, both mortal and divine, including gods such as Zeus, Hera, and Athena, and heroes such as Odysseus and Ajax.
Ultimately, the poem ends with the death of Hector at the hands of Achilles, who then shows mercy to Hector’s father and allows him to bury his son with full honors. The poem concludes with the funeral of Hector, and an ominous warning of the destruction that will come to the city of Troy. The Iliad is considered one of the greatest works of Western literature and a foundational text of Western civilization.