The Iliad

by Homer

The beautiful word minunthadios, “short-lived,” is used of both Achilles and Hector, and applies to all of us. We die too soon, and there is no adequate recompense for the terrible, inevitable loss of life.

But in war, killers recognize no binding obligation to compensate the families of their victims. The only way the bereaved can recoup their losses is to kill the killer—whose comrades will demand vengeance in their turn. Killing begets killing, death begets death, and every loss of life generates further loss of life.

The Trojans are such cowards! Were they not, they would have dressed you in a shirt of rocks for all the evils you have perpetrated.”