Quotes from The Clouds

12 notable lines from Aristophanes · 423 BCE

Wrong will be right and right will be wrong if you learn to argue properly.

Unjust Argument (paraphrased)

Quotations follow the Peter Meineck translation (Hackett Publishing, 2000) — our recommended edition.

  1. Socrates: I walk on air and look down on the sun.

    Socrates (in Aristophanes' satirical portrayal)

  2. I am traversing the air and contemplating the sun.

    Socrates, suspended in his basket · trans. Athenian Society (1912)

  3. Zeus! what Zeus! Are you mad? There is no Zeus.

    Socrates, to Strepsiades · trans. Athenian Society (1912)

  4. The Whirlwind has driven out Zeus and is King now.

    Strepsiades, to Phidippides · trans. Athenian Society (1912)

  5. They are the Clouds of heaven, great goddesses for the lazy; to them we owe all, thoughts, speeches, trickery, roguery, boasting, lies, sagacity.

    Socrates, on the Clouds · trans. Athenian Society (1912)

  6. Eternal Clouds, let us appear; let us arise from the roaring depths of Ocean, our father; let us fly towards the lofty mountains, spread our damp wings over their forest-laden summits.

    Chorus of Clouds, parodos · trans. Athenian Society (1912)

  7. Great gods! will these nights never end? will daylight never come? I heard the cock crow long ago and my slaves are snoring still!

    Strepsiades, opening lines · trans. Athenian Society (1912)

  8. These he took off and with them measured the distance.

    Disciple, on Socrates measuring how far a flea jumps · trans. Athenian Society (1912)

  9. Ah! you insulted the gods! You studied the face of the moon!

    Strepsiades, burning down the Thoughtery · trans. Athenian Society (1912)

  10. I am Reasoning.

    Unjust Discourse · trans. Athenian Society (1912)

  11. Yes, the weaker Reasoning.

    Just Discourse, to Unjust Discourse · trans. Athenian Society (1912)