Constantine P. Cavafy quotes

Constantine P. Cavafy was a renowned Greek poet, celebrated for his highly original and influential style. His poetry often explored themes of history, desire, and identity, blending personal experience with classical allusions. He has become one of the most important figures in modern Greek literature. Here are 77 of his quotes:

If you are one of the truly elect, be careful how you attain your eminence. (Constantine P. Cavafy)
And from this marvellous pan-Hellenic expedition, triumphant, brilliant in every way, celebrated on all sides, glorified incomparable, we emerged: the great new Hellenic world. View quote
Constantine P. Cavafy
Honor to those who in the life they lead define and guard a Thermopylae. View quote
Constantine P. Cavafy
He wasn't completely wrong, poor old Gemistus (let Lord Andronicus and the patriarch suspect him if they like), in wanting us, telling us to become pagan once again. View quote
Constantine P. Cavafy
Guard, O my soul, against pomp and glory. And if you cannot curb your ambitions, at least pursue them hesitantly, cautiously. And the higher you go, the more searching and careful you need to be. View quote
Constantine P. Cavafy
Body, remember not only how much you were loved, not only the beds you lay on, but also those desires glowing openly in eyes that looked at you, trembling for you in voices. View quote
Constantine P. Cavafy
Roses by the head, jasmine at the feet so appear the longings that have passed without being satisfied, not one of them granted a night of sensual pleasure, or one of its radiant mornings. View quote
Constantine P. Cavafy
From all I did and all I said let no one try to find out who I was. View quote
Constantine P. Cavafy
The days of the future stand in front of us Like a line of candles all alight - Golden and warm and lively little candles. View quote
Constantine P. Cavafy
What shall become of us without any barbarians? Those people were a kind of solution. View quote
Constantine P. Cavafy
One candle is enough. Its gentle light will be more suitable, will be more gracious when the Shades arrive, the Shades of Love. (Constantine P. Cavafy)
From my most unnoticed actions, my most veiled writing - from these alone will I be understood. View quote
Constantine P. Cavafy
A month passes by and brings another month. Easy to guess what lies ahead: all of yesterday's boredom. And tomorrow ends up no longer like tomorrow. View quote
Constantine P. Cavafy
Try to keep them, poet, those erotic visions of yours, however few of them there are that can be stilled. Put them, half-hidden, in your lines. View quote
Constantine P. Cavafy
What are we waiting for, assembled in the forum? The barbarians are due here today. View quote
Constantine P. Cavafy
I'm practically broke and homeless. This fatal city, Antioch, has devoured all my money: this fatal city with its extravagant life. View quote
Constantine P. Cavafy
The holy Cross goes forward; it brings joy and consolation to every quarter where Christians live; and these God-fearing people, elated, stand in their doorways and greet it reverently, the strength, the salvation of the universe, the Cross. View quote
Constantine P. Cavafy
Nero wasn't worried at all when he heard the utterance of the Delphic Oracle: "Beware the age of seventy-three.” Plenty of time to enjoy himself still. He's thirty. The deadline the god has given him is quite enough to cope with future dangers. View quote
Constantine P. Cavafy
You won't find a new country, won't find another shore. This city will always pursue you. View quote
Constantine P. Cavafy
How much we'll tell down there, how much, and how very different we'll appear. What we protect here like sleepless guards, wounds and secrets locked inside us, protect with such great anxiety day after day, we'll disclose freely and clearly down there. View quote
Constantine P. Cavafy
The matter, says Mardonios, has gone too far, the talk it has aroused must be stopped at all cost. - So Julian goes to the church at Nicomedia, a lector again, and there with deep reverence he reads out loud passages from the Holy Scriptures, and everyone marvels at his Christian piety. (Constantine P. Cavafy)
And in Spain Galba secretly musters and drills his army - Galba, the old man in his seventy-third year. View quote
Constantine P. Cavafy
When setting out upon your way to Ithaca, wish always that your course be long, full of adventure, full of lore. View quote
Constantine P. Cavafy
Things impolitic and dangerous: praise for Greek ideals, supernatural magic, visits to pagan temples. View quote
Constantine P. Cavafy
He was a quiet, gentle man, a man who loved peace (his country had suffered much from the wars of his predecessor), he behaved graciously toward everyone, humble and great alike. Never high-handed, he always sought advice in the kingdom's affairs from serious, experienced people. Just why his nephew killed him was never precisely explained. View quote
Constantine P. Cavafy