Homer, The Iliad, Book 8. Cowley's translation. See also in Milton—Paradise Lost, Book II. I. 1004; 1. 1050. Cotton Mather. Treatise entitled Schola et Scala Naturæ. Idea found in Lucan. "Aurea Catena Homeri," sometimes called "The Hermetic or Mercurial chain." Idea used by John Arndt, True Christianity, Book I, Chapter 4. Southey, quoting Wesley in Life of Wesley. Professor Sedgwick, Review of a Free Inquiry into the Nature and Origin of Evil.
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Lay ye down the golden chain From Heaven, and pull at its inferior links Both Goddesses and Gods.
— Homer on Social influence
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "Lay ye down the golden chain From Heaven, and pull at its inferior links Both Goddesses and Gods." in the context of "Homer, The Iliad, Book 8. Cowley's translation. See also in Milton—Paradise Lost, Book II. I. 1004; 1. 1050. Cotton Mather. Treatise entitled Schola et Scala Naturæ. Idea found in Lucan. "Aurea Catena Homeri," sometimes called "The Hermetic or Mercurial chain." Idea used by John Arndt, True Christianity, Book I, Chapter 4. Southey, quoting Wesley in Life of Wesley. Professor Sedgwick, Review of a Free Inquiry into the Nature and Origin of Evil." to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Social influence" (Quotes, Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations: Quotes reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 391-93.)
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
About Homer
Homer (Ancient Greek: Ὅμηρος) is best known as the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey. He was believed by the ancient Greeks to have been the first and greatest of the epic poets. Author of the first known literature of Europe, he is central to the Western canon.
About Homer
Homer (Ancient Greek: Ὅμηρος) is best known as the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey. He was believed by the ancient Greeks to have been the first and greatest of the epic poets. Author of the first known literature of Europe, he is central to the Western canon.
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