1. λίθος ~ λίθου (m.): stone2. ἀρχή ~ ἀρχῆς (f.): beginning3. λέων ~ λέοντος (m.): lion4. τύχη ~ τύχης (f.): luck, chance5. Μοῦσα ~ Μούσης (f.): Muse
Here are the proverbs and sayings:
Λίθον ἕψεις.
Ἐξ ὄνυχος τὸν λέοντα.
Τύχη δ' ἀρετῆς ἀναίτιος.
Ἀνεῳγμέναι Μουσῶν θύραι.
Plus some commentary:
Λίθον ἕψεις.
You're boiling a stone.
In other words: you're wasting your time. No matter how long you boil a stone, it stays a stone. You can see this root in "paleolithic," the Old Stone Age.
You're boiling a stone.
In other words: you're wasting your time. No matter how long you boil a stone, it stays a stone. You can see this root in "paleolithic," the Old Stone Age.
Ἀρχὴ ἥμισυ παντός.
The beginning (is) half of the whole.
The beginning (is) half of the whole.
In other words: the key to finishing anything is just to get started. Compare the English saying: "Well begun is half done." Things that are "archaic" existed from the beginning of time.
Ἐξ ὄνυχος τὸν λέοντα.
By the claw (you know) the lion.
The idea is that you can recognize someone by a specific trait or feature, although it might be very small; a lion is very big, but his claw is very small. Plus lions, like other cats, often keep their claws hidden... you might not recognize the lion until it is too late!
Τύχη δ' ἀρετῆς ἀναίτιος.
Luck (is) not the cause of excellence.
Literally: Luck is not-cause, ἀναίτιος, of excellence; alpha-privative adjectives like ἀναίτιος do not have a distinctive feminine form. In other words: you don't achieve excellence just by being lucky; you have to work for it. You can read about the goddess of luck at Wikipedia: Tyche.
Ἀνεῳγμέναι Μουσῶν θύραι.
The doors of the Muses (are) open.
In other words: everyone has access to the arts; it is not a private privilege. You can find out more about these goddesses at Wikipedia: Muses.
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