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I am sick at heart over attacks on our essential United States Postal Service. But it has put me in mind of the wonderful unofficial motto: "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of
their appointed rounds." (1/5)
their appointed rounds." (1/5)
It was carved in stone over the New York Post Office building on 8th avenue. One of the architects, William Mitchell Kendall, "was the son of a
classics scholar and read Greek for pleasure." He selected a passage from Herodotus. (2/5)
classics scholar and read Greek for pleasure." He selected a passage from Herodotus. (2/5)
He modified the passage as translated by Professor George Herbert Palmer of Harvard University. In it, Herodotus is describing the wonderful, efficient "pony express" postal system of the Persian empire. The Greek is as follows: (3/5)
From Herodotus 8.98, τοὺς οὔτε νιφετός, οὐκ ὄμβρος, οὐ καῦμα, οὐ νὺξ ἔργει μὴ οὐ κατανύσαι τὸν προκείμενον αὐτῷ δρόμον τὴν ταχίστην. ("These neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor night prevent from accomplishing their appointed course with utmost dispatch.") (4/5)
You can read more here: https://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/mission-motto.pdf Wouldn't it be nice if we both secured the safety of @USPS, and this became the "official" motto? (5/5)
