Mankind . . . possesses two supreme blessings. First of these is the goddess Demeter, or Earth whichever name you choose to call her by. It was she who gave to man his nourishment of grain. But after her there came the son of Semele, who matched her present by inventing liquid wine as his gift to man. For filled with that good gift, suffering mankind forgets its grief; from it comes sleep; with it oblivion of the troubles of the day. There is no other medicine for misery.

Wine enlivens the human soul.

Who then will dare to say I'm weak or timid? No, they'll say I'm loyal as a friend, ruthless as a foe, so much like a hero destined for glory.

Who dares not speak his free thoughts is a slave.

He is not a lover who does not love forever.

The stillest tongue can be the truest friend.

Enjoy yourself, drink, call the life you live today your own; but only that, the rest belongs to chance.