"Iron has powers to draw a man to ruin."
– Homer
The Odyssey, Book 19, line 14. Odysseus tells son Telemachus to use this as an argument to explain to the suitors why he has removed weapons from the hall – because the weapons might tempt people who are drunk to start a fight. This line has a meaning that resonates throughout The Odyssey and could be said to be the reason for Odysseus’ long journey home. The lure of warfare made him leave home to go to Troy in the first place. Another Odyssey translation quotes this line as: "For iron by itself can draw a man to use it."