“The Song of Achilles” by Madeline Miller is a touching retelling of the ancient Greek tale of Achilles, explored via the eyes of his companion Patroclus.
This novel draws breath into the age-old story, bringing out themes of love, destiny, and the human condition within the framework of myth. The quotes extracted from this literary work resonate intensely, capturing the intense emotions and complicated dynamics between the characters.
These quotes not just reflect the epic’s grand themes but also provide private insights into personal relationships and personal struggles, making the ancient tale attainable and relevant to a contemporary audience.
Top The Song of Achilles Quotes
“We were like gods at the dawning of the world, and our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.” – Madeline Miller
“What is admired in one generation is abhorred in another.” – Madeline Miller
“I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell; I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death, at the end of the world.” – Madeline Miller
“He is half of my soul, as the poets say.” – Madeline Miller
“There are no bargains between lions and men. I will kill you and eat you raw.” – Madeline Miller
“Some things are more precious because they don’t last long.” – Madeline Miller
“He smiled, and his face was like the sun.” – Madeline Miller
“But in the end, it was I who made him famous.” – Madeline Miller
“Achilles’ eyes lift. They are bloodshot and dead. ‘I wish he had let you all die.” – Madeline Miller
“Chiron had said once that nations were the most foolish of mortal inventions. ‘No man is worth more than another, wherever he is from.’” – Madeline Miller
Also Read: Dobby Quotes (with Commentary)
The Song of Achilles Quotes on Love and Destiny
“I will never leave him. It will be this, always, for as long as he will let me.” – Madeline Miller
“If I had had words to speak such a thing, I would have. But there were none, so I did not.” – Madeline Miller
“Love was that way, I had learned: quick to come, and cruel in its leaving.” – Madeline Miller
“Patroclus. I loved him, and the twining of our fates had become the strongest truth of my life.” – Madeline Miller
“In the darkness, two shadows, reaching through the hopeless, heavy dusk. Their hands meet, and light spills in a flood like a hundred golden urns pouring out of the sun.” – Madeline Miller
“Love is not only something you feel, it is something you do.” – Madeline Miller
“The never-ending ache of love and sorrow. Perhaps in some other life I will be able to describe it.” – Madeline Miller
“He was a marvel, shaft after shaft flying from him, spears that he willed to fly through men’s necks, hearts.” – Madeline Miller
“I am made of memories.” – Madeline Miller
“He is a weapon, a killer. Do not forget it. You can use a spear as a walking stick, but that will not change its nature.” – Madeline Miller
The Song of Achilles Quotes on Heroism
“I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell; I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death, at the end of the world.” – Madeline Miller
“Name one hero who was happy. I considered. Heracles went mad and killed his family; Theseus lost his bride and father; Jason’s glory was undone by a bride’s jealousy. ‘You can’t,’ he said.” – Madeline Miller
“We were like gods at the dawning of the world, and our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.” – Madeline Miller
“Chiron had said once that nations were the most foolish of mortal inventions. ‘No man is worth more than another, wherever he is from.” – Madeline Miller
“What is admired in one generation is abhorred in another.” – Madeline Miller
“But perhaps this is what it means to be a hero, giving everything for the shimmer of temporary glory.” – Madeline Miller
“I am made of memories.” – Madeline Miller
“There are no bargains between lions and men. I will kill you and eat you raw.” – Madeline Miller
“He is a weapon, a killer. Do not forget it. You can use a spear as a walking stick, but that will not change its nature.” – Madeline Miller
“He was a marvel, shaft after shaft flying from him, spears that he willed to fly through men’s necks, hearts.” – Madeline Miller
The Song of Achilles Quotes on Fate and Free Will
“We were like gods at the dawning of the world, and our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.” – Madeline Miller
“The never-ending ache of love and sorrow. Perhaps in some other life I will be able to describe it.” – Madeline Miller
“He is half of my soul, as the poets say.” – Madeline Miller
“When he died, all things soft and beautiful and bright would be buried with him.” – Madeline Miller
“I am made of memories.” – Madeline Miller
“Is there anything more terrifying than the destruction of the world?” – Madeline Miller
“Patroclus. I loved him, and the twining of our fates had become the strongest truth of my life.” – Madeline Miller
“Our men liked conquest; they did not trust a man who was conquered himself.” – Madeline Miller
“In the darkness, two shadows, reaching through the hopeless, heavy dusk. Their hands meet, and light spills in a flood like a hundred golden urns pouring out of the sun.” – Madeline Miller
“What has Hector ever done to me?” – Madeline Miller
The Song of Achilles Quotes on Grief and Loss
“When he died, all things soft and beautiful and bright would be buried with him.” – Madeline Miller
“There are no bargains between lions and men. I will kill you and eat you raw.” – Madeline Miller
“In the darkness, two shadows, reaching through the hopeless, heavy dusk. Their hands meet, and light spills in a flood like a hundred golden urns pouring out of the sun.” – Madeline Miller
“The sorrow we bring on others is not so different from the sorrow we bring on ourselves.” – Madeline Miller
“He is a weapon, a killer. Do not forget it. You can use a spear as a walking stick, but that will not change its nature.” – Madeline Miller
“What has Hector ever done to me?” – Madeline Miller
“But in the end, it was I who made him famous.” – Madeline Miller
“What is admired in one generation is abhorred in another.” – Madeline Miller
“He smiled, and his face was like the sun.” – Madeline Miller
“I am made of memories.” – Madeline Miller
The Song of Achilles Quotes on Friendship
“He is half of my soul, as the poets say.” – Madeline Miller
“I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell; I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death, at the end of the world.” – Madeline Miller
“Chiron had said once that nations were the most foolish of mortal inventions. ‘No man is worth more than another, wherever he is from.” – Madeline Miller
“We were like gods at the dawning of the world, and our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.” – Madeline Miller
“Name one hero who was happy. I considered. Heracles went mad and killed his family; Theseus lost his bride and father; Jason’s glory was undone by a bride’s jealousy. ‘You can’t,’ he said.” – Madeline Miller
“Some things are more precious because they don’t last long.” – Madeline Miller
“Achilles’ eyes lift. They are bloodshot and dead. ‘I wish he had let you all die.” – Madeline Miller
“But perhaps this is what it means to be a hero, giving everything for the shimmer of temporary glory.” – Madeline Miller
“Our men liked conquest; they did not trust a man who was conquered himself.” – Madeline Miller
“In the face of such grief, love is the only consolation.” – Madeline Miller
The Song of Achilles Quotes on War and Peace
“What is admired in one generation is abhorred in another.” – Madeline Miller
“He was a marvel, shaft after shaft flying from him, spears that he willed to fly through men’s necks, hearts.” – Madeline Miller
“Chiron had said once that nations were the most foolish of mortal inventions. ‘No man is worth more than another, wherever he is from.’” – Madeline Miller
“But perhaps this is what it means to be a hero, giving everything for the shimmer of temporary glory.” – Madeline Miller
“There are no bargains between lions and men. I will kill you and eat you raw.” – Madeline Miller
“Achilles’ eyes lift. They are bloodshot and dead. ‘I wish he had let you all die.” – Madeline Miller
“He is a weapon, a killer. Do not forget it. You can use a spear as a walking stick, but that will not change its nature.” – Madeline Miller
“Is there anything more terrifying than the destruction of the world?” – Madeline Miller
“War is brutal and harsh, and we do not know whether we will return from the battlefield. But we do know it is our duty to fight.” – Madeline Miller
“Peace is not merely the absence of war, but the nurture of human life.” – Madeline Miller
The Song of Achilles Quotes on Gods and Mortals
“The gods envy us. They envy us because we’re mortal, because any moment might be our last. Everything is more beautiful because we’re doomed.” – Madeline Miller
“We are all at the mercy of the gods, but we do what we can to know their will and we endure.” – Madeline Miller
“What has Hector ever done to me?” – Madeline Miller
“Name one hero who was happy. I considered. Heracles went mad and killed his family; Theseus lost his bride and father; Jason’s glory was undone by a bride’s jealousy. ‘You can’t,’ he said.” – Madeline Miller
“When the gods wish to punish us, they answer our prayers.” – Madeline Miller
“But in the end, it was I who made him famous.” – Madeline Miller
“He smiled, and his face was like the sun.” – Madeline Miller
“Some things are more precious because they don’t last long.” – Madeline Miller
“Our men liked conquest; they did not trust a man who was conquered himself.” – Madeline Miller
“In the face of such grief, love is the only consolation.” – Madeline Miller
The Song of Achilles Quotes on Honor and Glory
“But perhaps this is what it means to be a hero, giving everything for the shimmer of temporary glory.” – Madeline Miller
“I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell; I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death, at the end of the world.” – Madeline Miller
“Chiron had said once that nations were the most foolish of mortal inventions. ‘No man is worth more than another, wherever he is from.” – Madeline Miller
“We were like gods at the dawning of the world, and our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.” – Madeline Miller
“Name one hero who was happy. I considered. Heracles went mad and killed his family; Theseus lost his bride and father; Jason’s glory was undone by a bride’s jealousy. ‘You can’t,’ he said.” – Madeline Miller
“Some things are more precious because they don’t last long.” – Madeline Miller
“Achilles’ eyes lift. They are bloodshot and dead. ‘I wish he had let you all die.” – Madeline Miller
“But in the end, it was I who made him famous.” – Madeline Miller
“What is admired in one generation is abhorred in another.” – Madeline Miller
“He smiled, and his face was like the sun.” – Madeline Miller
The Song of Achilles Quotes on Beauty and Tragedy
“He is half of my soul, as the poets say.” – Madeline Miller
“I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell; I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death, at the end of the world.” – Madeline Miller
“Chiron had said once that nations were the most foolish of mortal inventions. ‘No man is worth more than another, wherever he is from.” – Madeline Miller
“We were like gods at the dawning of the world, and our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.” – Madeline Miller
“Name one hero who was happy. I considered. Heracles went mad and killed his family; Theseus lost his bride and father; Jason’s glory was undone by a bride’s jealousy. ‘You can’t,’ he said.” – Madeline Miller
“Some things are more precious because they don’t last long.” – Madeline Miller
“Achilles’ eyes lift. They are bloodshot and dead. ‘I wish he had let you all die.” – Madeline Miller
“But in the end, it was I who made him famous.” – Madeline Miller
“What is admired in one generation is abhorred in another.” – Madeline Miller
“He smiled, and his face was like the sun.” – Madeline Miller
The Song of Achilles Quotes on Identity and Self-Discovery
“He is half of my soul, as the poets say.” – Madeline Miller
“I am made of memories.” – Madeline Miller
“What is admired in one generation is abhorred in another.” – Madeline Miller
“Name one hero who was happy. I considered. Heracles went mad and killed his family; Theseus lost his bride and father; Jason’s glory was undone by a bride’s jealousy. ‘You can’t,’ he said.” – Madeline Miller
“In the darkness, two shadows, reaching through the hopeless, heavy dusk. Their hands meet, and light spills in a flood like a hundred golden urns pouring out of the sun.” – Madeline Miller
“Chiron had said once that nations were the most foolish of mortal inventions. ‘No man is worth more than another, wherever he is from.” – Madeline Miller
“We were like gods at the dawning of the world, and our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.” – Madeline Miller
“But in the end, it was I who made him famous.” – Madeline Miller
“He smiled, and his face was like the sun.” – Madeline Miller
“There are no bargains between lions and men. I will kill you and eat you raw.” – Madeline Miller
The Song of Achilles Quotes on Time and Memory
“I am made of memories.” – Madeline Miller
“He is a weapon, a killer. Do not forget it. You can use a spear as a walking stick, but that will not change its nature.” – Madeline Miller
“Some things are more precious because they don’t last long.” – Madeline Miller
“Our men liked conquest; they did not trust a man who was conquered himself.” – Madeline Miller
“Is there anything more terrifying than the destruction of the world?” – Madeline Miller
“What has Hector ever done to me?” – Madeline Miller
“When the gods wish to punish us, they answer our prayers.” – Madeline Miller
“When he died, all things soft and beautiful and bright would be buried with him.” – Madeline Miller
“In the face of such grief, love is the only consolation.” – Madeline Miller
“Patroclus. I loved him, and the twining of our fates had become the strongest truth of my life.” – Madeline Miller
Also Read: Green Goblin Quotes (with Commentary)
Final Thoughts
Quotes from “The Song of Achilles” linger in the mind long after the last page is flipped, summarizing the nature of the epic’s tragic beauty and the timelessness of its themes.
Madeline Miller’s lyrical prose and her knowledge of conveying profound emotional truths allow these quotes to surpass the boundaries of the story, touching on versatile truths about love, loss, and legacy.
“The Song of Achilles” remains proof of the lasting appeal of classical mythology, reimagined through a modern lens that speaks directly to the heart.