Contentions fierce,
Ardent, and dire, spring from no petty cause.

Contentions fierce,
Ardent, and dire, spring from no petty cause.

Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and
a man of contention read more

Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and
a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on
usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them
doth curse me.

'Tis a hydra's head contention; the more they strive the more they
may: and as Praxiteles did by his read more

'Tis a hydra's head contention; the more they strive the more they
may: and as Praxiteles did by his glass, when he saw a scurvy
face in it, brake it in pieces; but for that one he saw many more
as bad in a moment.

Stir up the hornets.
[Fr., Irriter les freslons.]

Stir up the hornets.
[Fr., Irriter les freslons.]

When individuals approach one another with deep purposes on both
sides they seldom come at once to the matter read more

When individuals approach one another with deep purposes on both
sides they seldom come at once to the matter which they have most
at heart. They dread the electric shock of a too sudden contact
with it.

So when two dogs are fighting in the streets,
When a third dog one of the two dogs meets:
read more

So when two dogs are fighting in the streets,
When a third dog one of the two dogs meets:
With angry teeth he bites him to the bone,
And this dog smarts for what that dog has done.

But curb thou the high spirit in thy breast,
For gentle ways are best, and keep aloof
read more

But curb thou the high spirit in thy breast,
For gentle ways are best, and keep aloof
From sharp contentions.

Great contest follows, and much learned dust
Involves the combatants; each claiming truth,
And truth disclaiming both.

Great contest follows, and much learned dust
Involves the combatants; each claiming truth,
And truth disclaiming both.

In excessive altercation, truth is lost.
[Lat., Nimium altercando veritas amittitur.]

In excessive altercation, truth is lost.
[Lat., Nimium altercando veritas amittitur.]