He satirized the polytheistic beliefs of earlier Greek poets and of his own contemporaries . `` Homer and Hesiod '' one fragment states , `` have attributed to the gods all sorts of things that are matters of reproach and censure among men : theft , adultery , and mutual deception '' . He cleverly satirized the polytheistic beliefs of earlier Greek poets and of his own contemporaries : `` Homer and Hesiod '' one fragment states , `` have attributed to the gods all sorts of things that are matters of reproach and censure among men : theft , adultery , and mutual deception . ''