Admire a small ship, but put your freight in a large one; for the larger the load, the greater will be the profit upon profit.
Meaning of the quote
The quote suggests that while a small ship may seem impressive, it's better to invest in a larger one. The bigger the cargo you can transport, the more money you'll make in the long run. The key idea is that taking on bigger challenges and opportunities can lead to greater rewards, even if the smaller options seem more appealing at first.
About Hesiod
Hesiod was an ancient Greek poet who lived around 700 BC, around the same time as Homer. He is known for his works Theogony, which tells the origins of the gods, and Works and Days, a poem that describes the five Ages of Man and offers advice and wisdom.
More quotes from Hesiod
The fool knows after he’s suffered.
ancient Greek poet
At the beginning of the cask and the end take thy fill but be saving in the middle; for at the bottom the savings comes too late.
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The best is he who calls men to the best. And those who heed the call are also blessed. But worthless who call not, heed not, but rest.
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A bad neighbor is as great a calamity as a good one is a great advantage.
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Whoever happens to give birth to mischievous children lives always with unending grief in his spirit and heart.
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Wealth should not be seized, but the god-given is much better.
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If you should put even a little on a little and should do this often, soon this would become big.
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Whoever has trusted a woman has trusted deceivers.
ancient Greek poet
Never make a companion equal to a brother.
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The man who does evil to another does evil to himself, and the evil counsel is most evil for him who counsels it.
ancient Greek poet
Often even a whole city suffers for a bad man who sins and contrives presumptuous deeds.
ancient Greek poet
Do not let a flattering woman coax and wheedle you and deceive you; she is after your barn.
ancient Greek poet
It will not always be summer; build barns.
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For a man wins nothing better than a good wife, and then again nothing deadlier than a bad one.
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Try to take for a mate a person of your own neighborhood.
ancient Greek poet
Giving is good, but taking is bad and brings death.
ancient Greek poet
Often an entire city has suffered because of an evil man.
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If you add a little to a little, and then do it again, soon that little shall be much.
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False shame accompanies a man that is poor, shame that either harms a man greatly or profits him; shame is with poverty, but confidence with wealth.
ancient Greek poet
Justice prevails over transgression when she comes to the end of the race.
ancient Greek poet
How easily some light report is set about, but how difficult to bear.
ancient Greek poet
Whoever, fleeing marriage and the sorrows that women cause, does not wish to wed comes to a deadly old age.
ancient Greek poet
He fashions evil for himself who does evil to another, and an evil plan does mischief to the planner.
ancient Greek poet
So the people will pay the penalty for their kings’ presumption, who, by devising evil, turn justice from her path with tortuous speech.
ancient Greek poet
Happy is the man whom the Muses love: sweet speech flows from his mouth.
ancient Greek poet
It is not possible either to trick or escape the mind of Zeus.
ancient Greek poet
Badness you can get easily, in quantity; the road is smooth, and it lies close by, But in front of excellence the immortal gods have put sweat, and long and steep is the way to it.
ancient Greek poet
Potter is jealous of potter, and craftsman of craftsman; and the poor have a grudge against the poor, and the poet against the poet.
ancient Greek poet
Acquisition means life to miserable mortals.
ancient Greek poet
But they who give straight judgements to strangers and to those of the land and do not transgress what is just, for them the city flourishes and its people prosper.
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Bring a wife home to your house when you are of the right age, not far short of 30 years, nor much above; this is the right time for marriage.
ancient Greek poet
Observe due measure, for right timing is in all things the most important factor.
ancient Greek poet
We know how to speak many falsehoods that resemble real things, but we know, when we will, how to speak true things.
ancient Greek poet
A day is sometimes our mother, sometimes our stepmother.
ancient Greek poet
When you deal with your brother, be pleasant, but get a witness.
ancient Greek poet
He is senseless who would match himself against a stronger man; for he is deprived of victory and adds suffering to disgrace.
ancient Greek poet
For both faith and want of faith have destroyed men alike.
ancient Greek poet
It is best to do things systematically, since we are only human, and disorder is our worst enemy.
ancient Greek poet
Preserve the mean; the opportune moment is best in all things.
ancient Greek poet
Work is no disgrace: it is idleness which is a disgrace.
ancient Greek poet
Do not gain basely; base gain is equal to ruin.
ancient Greek poet
Admire a small ship, but put your freight in a large one; for the larger the load, the greater will be the profit upon profit.
ancient Greek poet
Toil is no source of shame; idleness is shame.
ancient Greek poet
Mortals grow swiftly in misfortune.
ancient Greek poet