Basil L. Gildersleeve, Syntax of Classical Greek

The universal present may be represented by the aorist. The principle is that of the generic article. A model individual is made to represent a class. This is called the gnomic aorist, because it is used in maxims, sentences, proverbs (“γνῶμαι”), which delight in concrete illustrations. The gnomic aorist interchanges freely with the present, but does not thereby lose its peculiar effect.¹

“ῥώμη . . . μετὰ μὲν φρονήσεως ὠφέλησεν, ἄνευ δὲ ταύτης πλείω τοὺς ἔχοντας ἔβλαψε”, ISOC. [1]ISOC., 6; Strength with judgment does good, without it does greater harm to those that possess it.

DEM.2.9: “ὅταν μὲν γὰρ ὑπ᾽ εὐνοίας τὰ πράγματα συστῇ, . . . συμπονεῖν … ἐθέλουσιν ἅνθρωποι: ὅταν δ᾽ ἐκ πλεονεξίας καὶ πονηρίας τις ὥσπερ οὗτος ἰσχύσῃ, ἡ πρώτη πρόφασις καὶ μικρὸν πταῖσμα πάντ᾽ ἀνεχαίτισεν καὶ διέλυσεν”. Ibid. 10. 21. 5.12.

ISOC.1.6(see above). 5.38: “ἐπὴν δὲ κακῶς ἀλλήλους διαθῶσιν, οὐδενὸς διαλύοντος αὐτοὶ διέστησαν”.

PLATO, Legg. 720D: “ὁ δὲ ἐλεύθερος” (sc. “ἰατρός”) . . . “διδάσκει τὸν ἀσθενοῦντα αὐτόν, καὶ οὐ πρότερον ἐπέταξε πρὶν ἄν τῃ ξυμπείσῃ”, The physician who is free (and not a slave) instructs the patient himself and does not give a prescription until he in some way succeeds in convincing him. Phaedo 73 D: “οἱ ἐρασταί, ὅταν ἴδωσι λύραν . . . ἢ ἄλλο τι οἷς τὰ παιδικὰ αὐτῶν εἴωθε χρῆσθαι, πάσχουσι τοῦτο: ἔγνωσάν τε τὴν λύραν καὶ ἐν τῇ διανοίᾳ ἔλαβον τὸ εἶδος τοῦ παιδός, οὗ ἦν ἡ λύρα”.

HDT.7.10, “ε”): “οὕτω δὲ καὶ στρατὸς πολλὸς ὑπὸ ὀλίγου διαφθείρεται κατὰ τοιόνδε. ἐπεάν σφι ὁ θεὸς φθονήσας φόβον ἐμβάλῃ ἢ βροντήν, δἰ ὦν ἐφθάρησαν ἀναξίως ἑωυτῶν” (a good example of general principle and particular illustration).

COM. Men.4.354.495: “τύχη τέχνην ὤρθωσεν, οὐ τέχνη τύχην”.

PIND. O. 4.4: “ξείνων δ᾽ εὖ πρασσόντων, ἔσαναν αὐτίκ̓ ἀγγελίαν ποτὶ γλυκεῖαν ἐσλοἰ”. O. 7.30-1: “αἱ δὲ φρενῶν ταραχαὶ παρέπλαγξαν καὶ σοφόν”. fr. 225: “ὁπόταν θεὸς ἀνδρὶ χάρμα πέμψῃ, πάρος μέλαιναν κραδίαν ἐστυφέλιξεν” . . .

SIMON. C. 65: “ὁ δ᾽ αὖ θάνατος κίχε καὶ τὸν φυγόμαχον”.

THEOGN. 661-6: “καὶ ἐκ κακοῦ ἐσθλὸν ἔγεντο”, | “καὶ κακὸν ἐξ ἀγαθοῦ: καί τε πενιχρὸς ἀνὴρ” | “αἶψα μάλ᾽ ἐπλούτησε: καὶ ὃς μάλα πολλὰ πέπαται”, | “ἐξαπίνης πάντ᾽ οὖν ὤλεσε νυκτὶ μιῇ”. | “καὶ σώφρων ἥμαρτε, καὶ ἄφρονι πολλάκι δόξα” | “ἕσπετο, καὶ τιμῆς καὶ κακὸς ὢν ἔλαχεν”.

SOLON, 13.8. 28. 29. 31. 38. 54. 68.

TYRT.12.20-2: “οὗτος ἀνὴρ ἀγαθὸς γίγνεται ἐν πολέμῳ:” | “αἶψα δὲ δυσμενέων ἀνδρῶν ἔτρεψε φάλαγγας” | “τρηχείας, σπουδῇ τ᾽ ἔσχεθε κῦμα μάχης”.

HES. Theog. 436: “παραγίγνεται ἠδ᾽ ὀνίνησι”, but 442-3: “ῥῃιδίως ἄγρην κυδρὴ θεὸς ὤπασε πολλήν”, | “ῥεῖα δ᾽ ἀφείλετο φαινομένην, ἐθέλουσά γε θυμῷ”. 447: “ἐξ ὀλίγων βριάει, κἀκ πολλῶν μείονα θῆκεν”. (The end of the verse is more than a metrical shift; it is a swoop.)

HOM. Il. 4.442-3: “ἥ τ᾽ ὀλίγη μὲν πρῶτα κορύσσεται, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα” | “οὐρανῷ ἐστήριξε κάρη καὶ ἐπὶ χθονὶ βαίνει”.