Book 18

I think that I said some pretty weird things today on page 340. I said that mankind is the frailest mortal creature on the earth. I think that I meant that humans can be the stupidest creatures on the planet and that it doesn't take much to get yourself in trouble with the gods. I also said that life with the gods can be like night and day. This means to me that in different parts of your life and even on different days the gods can favor you, or dislike you. Sort of how after I boasted to the Kyklops the gods didn't like me, but later on and they thought that I had suffered enough and they decided to help me.

I also think that what I said makes me seem very wise. What do you think? Nah. I know you think I'm wise, you don't have to say it. Back to the topic. The sorts of things that I said came from a long time of hardship and disloyalty by myself and others. I could also sense that the person that Iwas speaking to knew that I was telling the truth. I could tell by his reaction. Overall, I think that my wisdom has really grown over my life, but that doesn't mean that I'm too old to be a warrior.

After seeing all of these suitors and learning from what they act like I think that I can probably take them. But that is obviously the biggest problem that I am facing at the moment. I think that another problem that can possibly happen is that I can, once again, lose the god's favor by doing something stupid. It's happened to me before. Like when I said: ""Our minds are as the days are, dark and bright,/blown over by the father of gods and men" (340). Let's just hope that that doesn't happen to me again.

In general, I think that my self-awareness has grown too. When I was challenged to a fight by Iros, I decided not to fight too rough because I didn't want to have a chance of giving myself away. See!!!!!!!!!!!! I have changed. In the past I would have seen this as a chance to show my strength and would have crippled him right there on the spot. I also think that I am much more aware of my surroundings now than before. I can tell when to say things in certain situations without getting myself into that much trouble.