gods

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gods the gods send nuts to those who have no teeth opportunities or pleasures often come too late to be enjoyed; saying recorded from the early 20th century.
whom the gods love die young the happiest fate is to die before health and strength are lost. The saying is recorded in English from the mid 16th century, but the same thought is found in the writings of the Greek comic dramatist Menander (342–c.292 bc), ‘he whom the gods love dies young,’ and the Roman comic dramatist Plautus (c.250–184 bc), ‘he whom the gods favour, dies young.’
whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad often used to comment on a foolish action seen as self-destructive in its effect. The saying is recorded in English from the early 17th century, but the idea is found earlier in the classical Greek tag, ‘when divine anger ruins a man, it first takes away his good sense.’ The Latin version of the saying, quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat, is sometimes quoted.

See also God, in the lap of the gods, take the goods the gods provide, twilight of the gods.