The fundamental fact about the Greek was that he had to use his mind. The ancient priests had said 'Thus far and no farther. We set the limits of thought.' The Greek said 'All things are to be examined and called into question. There are no limits set on thought.'

— Edith Hamilton

The Greeks were realists. They saw the beauty of common things and were content with it.

— Edith Hamilton

The mind knows only what lies near the heart.

— Edith Hamilton

The power of good is shown not by triumphantly conquering evil, but by continuing to resist evil while facing certain defeat.

— Edith Hamilton

They yoked themselves to a car and drew her all the long way through dust and heat. Everyone admired their filial piety when they arrived and the proud and happy mother standing before the statue prayed that Hera would reward them by giving them the best gift in her power. As she finished her prayer the two lads sank to the ground. They were smiling, and they looked as if they were peacefully asleep, but they were dead. (Baton and Cleo bis)

— Edith Hamilton

Though the outside of human life changes much, the inside changes little.

— Edith Hamilton

To the Greeks, the word "character" first referred to the stamp upon a coin. By extension, man was the coin, and the character trait was the stamp imprinted upon him. To them, that trait, for example bravery, was a share of something all mankind had, rather than means of distinguishing one from the whole.

— Edith Hamilton

Tragedy cannot take place around a type. Suffering is the most individualizing thing on earth.

— Edith Hamilton

Very few great artists feel the giant agony of the world.

— Edith Hamilton

We hold there is no worse enemy to a state than he who keeps the law in his own hands.

— Edith Hamilton