Illusions

The following exchange between Hermes and Zeus from Lucan’s Dialogues of the Gods shows that there is nothing new under the sun.

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O Zeus, I am astounded by the idiocy of all humans.

The rich despise the poor,

and the poor resent the rich.

The ignorant call the clever fools,

and the clever laugh at the ignorant.

O Father, no one abandons his own illusions,

but all live in daydreams.

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Here is the original.

Ὦ Ζεῦ, πάντων ἀνθρώπων ἀνοησίαν ἐθαύμασα.

Οἱ μὲν πλούσιοι τοὺς πενήτας καταφρονοῦσι,

οἱ δὲ πενῆτες τοῖς πλουσίοις φθονέουσιν.

Οἱ μὲν ἀμαθεῖς σοφοὺς καλοῦσιν,

οἱ δὲ σοφοὶ τῶν ἀμαθῶν γελῶσι.

Οὐδείς, ὦ πάτερ, τὰ ἑαυτοῦ εἴδωλα καταλείπει,

ἀλλὰ πάντες ἐν φαντασίαις ζῶσιν.