ἐπειδὰν ἡ θάλαττα ὑπέρσχῃ μάταιος ἡ σπουδή

From LSJ

εἰπὼν ἃ θέλεις, ἀντάκουε ἃ μὴ θέλεις → if you say what you want, hear in response what you don't want

Source

English > Greek (Woodhouse Quotes Reversed)

when the sea swamps the boat effort is useless