even Homer nods

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English

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A bust of the (possibly legendary) Ancient Greek poet Homer in the gardens of the Achilleion in Corfu, Greece

Alternative forms

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Etymology

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even + Homer + nods (be momentarily inattentive or inaccurate), alluding to line 359 of Horace’s Ars Poetica[1] indignor quandoque bonus dormitat Homerus (I become annoyed when the great Homer is being drowsy). The English translation Homer nods has become standard following Pope (1709), but is due to Dryden (1677).

Pronunciation

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Proverb

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even Homer nods

  1. Not even the most vigilant and expert are immune to error.

Translations

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References

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  1. ^ Quintus Horatius Flaccus, Ars Poetica (c. 18 BC), ll. 354–360
    Vt scriptor si peccat idem librarius usque,
    quamuis est monitus, uenia caret, et Citharoedus
    ridetur, chorda qui semper oberrat eadem,
    sic mihi, qui multum cessat, fit Choerilus ille,
    quem bis terque bonum cum risu miror; et idem
    indignor quandoque bonus dormitat Homerus;
    uerum operi longo fas est obrepere somnum.