Quotes by Roman Authors | Beyond Motive 16/38

top of page

Quotes by Roman Authors

"Thus the sum of things is ever being reviewed, and mortals dependent one upon another. Some nations increase, others diminish, and in a short space the generations of living creatures are changed and like runners pass on the torch of life."

"Thus the sum of things is ever being reviewed, and mortals dependent one upon another. Some nations increase, others diminish, and in a short space the generations of living creatures are changed and like runners pass on the torch of life."

Lucretius, Roman Poet

Life, Being, Generations, Living

11

"Pain forces even the innocent to lie."

"Pain forces even the innocent to lie."

Publilius Syrus, Roman Writer

11

"A mouse never entrusts his life to only one hole."

"A mouse never entrusts his life to only one hole."

Titus Maccius Plautus, Roman Poet

11

"They are more than men at the outset of their battles; at the end they are less than the women."

"They are more than men at the outset of their battles; at the end they are less than the women."

Titus Livius, Roman Historian

Man, Men, Women, End

11

"We are more often frightened than hurt; and we suffer more from imagination than from reality."

"We are more often frightened than hurt; and we suffer more from imagination than from reality."

Seneca, Roman Philosopher

Imagination, Hurt, Reality

11

"Indeed heresies are themselves instigated by philosophy."

"Indeed heresies are themselves instigated by philosophy."

Tertullian, Roman Author

11

"Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?"

"Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?"

Pontius Pilate, Roman Politician

11

"Nothing is miserable unless you think it is so."

"Nothing is miserable unless you think it is so."

Boethius, Roman Philosopher

11

"The lust of avarice as so totally seized upon mankind that their wealth seems rather to possess them than they possess their wealth."

"The lust of avarice as so totally seized upon mankind that their wealth seems rather to possess them than they possess their wealth."

Pliny the Elder, Roman Author

Wealth, Lust, Mankind

11

"The weeping of an heir is laughter in disguise."

"The weeping of an heir is laughter in disguise."

Publilius Syrus, Roman Writer

Loss, Disguise, Heir, Laughter, Weeping

11

"There is a demand in these days for men who can make wrong appear right."

"There is a demand in these days for men who can make wrong appear right."

Terence, Roman Writer

Man, Men, Right, Wrong

11

"Striid andWthdraw into yourself. Our master-reason asks no more than to act justly, and thereby to achieve calm."

"Striid andWthdraw into yourself. Our master-reason asks no more than to act justly, and thereby to achieve calm."

Marcus Aurelius, Roman Soldier

Stoicism, Calm, Justice, Mindset, Control

11

"Be content to seem what you really are."

"Be content to seem what you really are."

Marcus Aurelius, Roman Soldier

11

"Among those who share a throne there can be no loyalty; Dominion's ever impatient consort."

"Among those who share a throne there can be no loyalty; Dominion's ever impatient consort."

Marcus Annaeus Lucan, Roman Poet

11

"The person who receives the most favors is the one who knows how to return them."

"The person who receives the most favors is the one who knows how to return them."

Publilius Syrus, Roman Writer

Persistence, Favors

11

"True nobility is exempt from fear."

"True nobility is exempt from fear."

Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman Statesman

11

"The whole world is a man's birthplace."

"The whole world is a man's birthplace."

Caecilius Statius, Roman Poet

11

"Success tempts many to their ruin."

"Success tempts many to their ruin."

Phaedrus, Roman Poet

11

"What sweetness is left in life, if you take away friendship? Robbing life of friendship is like robbing the world of the sun. A true friend is more to be esteemed than kinsfolk."

"What sweetness is left in life, if you take away friendship? Robbing life of friendship is like robbing the world of the sun. A true friend is more to be esteemed than kinsfolk."

Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman Statesman

Friendship, Life, Sun, Sweetness

11

"The man is either mad, or he is making verses."

"The man is either mad, or he is making verses."

Horace, Roman Poet

11

"Seize the day, and put the least possible trust in tomorrow."

"Seize the day, and put the least possible trust in tomorrow."

Horace, Roman Poet

Trust, Day, Tomorrow

11

"A learned man has always riches in himself."

"A learned man has always riches in himself."

Phaedrus, Roman Poet

11

"Nobody is poor unless he stand in need of justice."

"Nobody is poor unless he stand in need of justice."

Lactantius, Roman Author

11

"It is the failing of youth not to be able to restrain its own violence."

"It is the failing of youth not to be able to restrain its own violence."

Seneca, Roman Philosopher

Youth, Violence, Statesman

11

"Ambition drove many men to become false; to have one thought locked in the breast, another ready on the tongue."

"Ambition drove many men to become false; to have one thought locked in the breast, another ready on the tongue."

Sallust, Roman Historian

Man, Men, Thought, Ambition, Tongue

11

"It is worth while too to warn the teacher that undue severity in correcting faults is liable at times to discourage a boy's mind from effort."

"It is worth while too to warn the teacher that undue severity in correcting faults is liable at times to discourage a boy's mind from effort."

Quintilian, Roman Educator

Effort, Faults, Mind, Worth

11

"Kings are more prone to mistrust the good than the bad; and they are always afraid of the virtues of others."

"Kings are more prone to mistrust the good than the bad; and they are always afraid of the virtues of others."

Sallust, Roman Historian

Politics, Kings, Mistrust

11

"Mix a little foolishness with your serious plans. It is lovely to be silly at the right moment."

"Mix a little foolishness with your serious plans. It is lovely to be silly at the right moment."

Horace, Roman Poet

Fool, Foolishness, Right, Silly

11

"As I approve of a youth that has something of the old man in him, so I am no less pleased with an old man that has something of the youth. He that follows this rule may be old in body, but can never be so in mind."

"As I approve of a youth that has something of the old man in him, so I am no less pleased with an old man that has something of the youth. He that follows this rule may be old in body, but can never be so in mind."

Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman Statesman

Body, Man, May, Mind

11

"Let me tell you I am better acquainted with you for a long absence, as men are with themselves for a long affliction: absence does but hold off a friend, to make one see him the truer."

"Let me tell you I am better acquainted with you for a long absence, as men are with themselves for a long affliction: absence does but hold off a friend, to make one see him the truer."

Ovid, Roman Poet

Friendship, Men, Friend, Absence

11

"This I consider to be a valuable principle in life: Do no thing in excess."

"This I consider to be a valuable principle in life: Do no thing in excess."

Terence, Roman Writer

Moderation, Excess

11

"He makes a great mistake... who supposes that authority is firmer or better established when it is founded by force than that which is welded by affection."

"He makes a great mistake... who supposes that authority is firmer or better established when it is founded by force than that which is welded by affection."

Terence, Roman Writer

Mistake, Affection, Authority, Force

11

"The greater the difficulty, the greater the glory."

"The greater the difficulty, the greater the glory."

Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman Statesman

Achievement, Difficulty, Glory

11

"Victor and vanquished never unite in substantial agreement."

"Victor and vanquished never unite in substantial agreement."

Tacitus, Roman Historian

11

"Any man can make mistakes, but only an idiot persists in his error."

"Any man can make mistakes, but only an idiot persists in his error."

Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman Statesman

Mistake, Error, Man, Mistakes

11

"A hasty judgment is a first step to recantation."

"A hasty judgment is a first step to recantation."

Publilius Syrus, Roman Writer

Judgment, First

11

"No evil propensity of the human heart is so powerful that it may not be subdued by discipline."

"No evil propensity of the human heart is so powerful that it may not be subdued by discipline."

Seneca, Roman Philosopher

Heart, Discipline, Evil, May

11

"If you must break the law, do it to seize power: in all other cases observe it."

"If you must break the law, do it to seize power: in all other cases observe it."

Julius Caesar, Roman Leader

11

"Let your light shine as an inspiration to humanity and BE THE REASON someone believes in the goodness of people."

"Let your light shine as an inspiration to humanity and BE THE REASON someone believes in the goodness of people."

Germany Kent, Roman Soldier

Inspirational, Light, Humanity, Goodness

11

"The rule of friendship means there should be mutual sympathy between them, each supplying what the other lacks and trying to benefit the other, always using friendly and sincere words."

"The rule of friendship means there should be mutual sympathy between them, each supplying what the other lacks and trying to benefit the other, always using friendly and sincere words."

Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman Statesman

Friendship, Sympathy, Trying, Words

11

"Two kinds of blindness are easily combined so that those who do not see really appear to see what is not."

"Two kinds of blindness are easily combined so that those who do not see really appear to see what is not."

Tertullian, Roman Author

Ignorance, Blindness

11

"Night brings our troubles to the light, rather than banishes them."

"Night brings our troubles to the light, rather than banishes them."

Seneca, Roman Philosopher

Trouble, Light, Night, Statesman

11

"Men willingly believe what they wish."

"Men willingly believe what they wish."

Julius Caesar, Roman Leader

11

"Don't let the enemy try to keep you bound with fear. The devil is a liar. Stay in faith and trust the process. Be still, God has a plan!"

"Don't let the enemy try to keep you bound with fear. The devil is a liar. Stay in faith and trust the process. Be still, God has a plan!"

Germany Kent, Roman Soldier

Faith, Trust, Patience, Hope

11

"Injustice never rules forever."

"Injustice never rules forever."

Seneca, Roman Philosopher

Justice, Freedom, Truth, Power

11

"Death is not natural for a state as it is for a human being, for whom death is not only necessary, but frequently even desirable."

"Death is not natural for a state as it is for a human being, for whom death is not only necessary, but frequently even desirable."

Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman Statesman

Death, Being, State

11

"For it is in your power to retire into yourself whenever you choose."

"For it is in your power to retire into yourself whenever you choose."

Marcus Aurelius, Roman Soldier

Control, Power, Self, Choice, Freedom

11

"Advice to my younger self: 1 Start where you are with what you have. 2 Try not to hurt other people. 3 Take more chances. 4 If you fail, keep trying."

"Advice to my younger self: 1 Start where you are with what you have. 2 Try not to hurt other people. 3 Take more chances. 4 If you fail, keep trying."

Germany Kent, Roman Soldier

Motivation, Advice, Courage, Risk, Perseverance

11

"Note too that a faithful study of the liberal arts humanizes character and permits it not to be cruel."

"Note too that a faithful study of the liberal arts humanizes character and permits it not to be cruel."

Ovid, Roman Poet

Character, Liberal, Study

11

"The disgrace of others often keeps tender minds from vice."

"The disgrace of others often keeps tender minds from vice."

Horace, Roman Poet

Marketing, Disgrace, Vice

11

bottom of page