Careful Words

calamity (n.)

  It was a saying of Demetrius Phalereus, that "Men having often abandoned what was visible for the sake of what was uncertain, have not got what they expected, and have lost what they had,—being unfortunate by an enigmatical sort of calamity."

Athenaeus (Circa 200 a d): The Deipnosophists. vi. 23.

  Fortune is not satisfied with inflicting one calamity.

Publius Syrus (42 b c): Maxim 274.

Calamity is man's true touchstone.

Beaumont And Fletcher: Four Plays in One: The Triumph of Honour. Sc. 1.

  Learn to see in another's calamity the ills which you should avoid.

Publius Syrus (42 b c): Maxim 120.

The play's the thing

Wherein I 'll catch the conscience of the king.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): Hamlet. Act ii. Sc. 2.

  For many, as Cranton tells us, and those very wise men, not now but long ago, have deplored the condition of human nature, esteeming life a punishment, and to be born a man the highest pitch of calamity; this, Aristotle tells us, Silenus declared when he was brought captive to Midas.

Plutarch (46(?)-120(?) a d): Consolation to Apollonius.