Rage - Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus' son Achilles, murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses, hurling down to the House of Death so many sturdy souls, great fighters' souls, but made their bodies carrion, feasts for the dogs and birds, and the will of Zeus was moving toward its end. Begin, Muse, when the two first broke and clashed, Agamemnon lord of men and brilliant Achilles.

Life and death are balanced as it were on the edge of a razor

Know from the bounteous heaven all riches flow.

It is wrong to be sorry without ceasing.

So it is that the gods do not give all men gifts of grace - neither good looks nor intelligence nor eloquence.

By turns the nine delight to sing

Ah, beer, my one weakness. My Achille's heel, if you will.