δεκὰς ἀνδρῶν

From LSJ

Μεγάλοι δὲ λόγοι μεγάλας πληγὰς τῶν ὑπεραύχων ἀποτίσαντες γήρᾳ τὸ φρονεῖν ἐδίδαξαν → The great words of the arrogant pay the penalty by suffering great blows, and teach one to reason in old age

Sophocles, Antigone, 1350-1353