The Epic of Gilgamesh Quotes

Find the perfect quote to float your boat. Shmoop breaks down key quotations from The Epic of Gilgamesh.

Death Quotes

Who, my friend, can ascend to the heavens?(Only) the gods can dwell forever with Shamash.As for human beings, their days are numbered,and whatever they keep trying to achieve is but wind!Now you ar...

Friendship Quotes

Becoming aware of himself, he sought a friend. (1.194-204)

Sex Quotes

Gilgamesh does not leave a girl to her mother(?)!" (1.59-74)

Man and the Natural World Quotes

He carved on a stone stela all of his toils,and built the wall of Uruk-Haven,the wall of the sacred Eanna Temple, the holy sanctuary.Look at its wall which gleams like copper (?),inspect its inner...

Life, Consciousness, and Existence Quotes

Two-thirds of him is god, one-third of him is human.The Great Goddess [Aruru] designed(?) the model for his body,she prepared his form …… beautiful, handsomest of men,… perfect … (1.46-50)

Wisdom and Knowledge Quotes

He who has seen everything, I will make known (?) to the lands.I will teach (?) about him who experienced all things,… alike,Anu granted him the totality of knowledge of all.He saw the Secret, di...

Fear Quotes

A notorious trappercame face-to-face with him [Enkidu] opposite the watering hole.A first, a second, and a third dayhe came face-to-face with him opposite the watering hole.On seeing him the trappe...

Pride Quotes

He walks around in the enclosure of Uruk,like a wild bull he makes himself mighty, head raised (over others).There is no rival who can raise his weapon against him.His fellows stand (at the alert),...

Perseverance Quotes

He saw the Secret, discovered the Hidden,he brought information of (the time) before the Flood.He went on a distant journey, pushing himself to exhaustion,but then was brought to peace. (1.5-8)

Religion Quotes

"Ninsun, (even though) I am extraordinarily strong(?) …I must now travel a long way to where Humbaba is,I must face fighting such as I have never known,and I must travel on a road that I do not k...