Prometheus
Lucian of Samosata
Lucian, Vol. 2. Harmon, A. M., editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1915.
Moreover, Hermes, please consider this point too— do you think that any choice thing unattested, something that you get or make, for instance, which nobody is going to see or to praise, will give quite as much joy and pleasure to its owner? Why did I ask that question? Because if men had not been created, it would follow that the beauty of the universe would be unattested and it would be our lot to possess wealth, so to speak, which no one else would admire and we ourselves would not prize so highly ; for we should have nothing else to compare it with, and we should not realise how happy we were if we did not see others who did not have what we have. What is great, you know, can only seem great if it is gauged by something small. You should have honoured me for that stroke of policy, but you have crucified me and have given me this return for my plan.