Quotes by Roman Authors | Beyond Motive 4/38

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Quotes by Roman Authors

"Happy is he who can trace effects to their causes."

"Happy is he who can trace effects to their causes."

Virgil, Roman Poet

21

"Mind moves matter."

"Mind moves matter."

Virgil, Roman Poet

21

"No man enjoys the true taste of life, but he who is ready and willing to quit it."

"No man enjoys the true taste of life, but he who is ready and willing to quit it."

Seneca, Roman Philosopher

Life, Man, Taste

21

"When about to commit a base deed, respect thyself, though there is no witness."

"When about to commit a base deed, respect thyself, though there is no witness."

Ausonius, Roman Poet

Self-control, Deed, Respect

21

"Persevere and preserve yourselves for better circumstances."

"Persevere and preserve yourselves for better circumstances."

Virgil, Roman Poet

Circumstance, Circumstances

21

"He who lives only to benefit himself confers on the world a benefit when he dies."

"He who lives only to benefit himself confers on the world a benefit when he dies."

Tertullian, Roman Author

21

"As a rule, men worry more about what they can't see than about what they can."

"As a rule, men worry more about what they can't see than about what they can."

Julius Caesar, Roman Leader

Wisdom, Men, Worry

21

"Blessedness consists in the accomplishment of our desires, and in our having only regular desires."

"Blessedness consists in the accomplishment of our desires, and in our having only regular desires."

Saint Augustine, Algerian Saint

Accomplishment, Saint Aurelius Augustine, Roman, Theologian

21

"Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful."

"Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful."

Seneca, Roman Philosopher

Religion, People, Statesman

21

"I love the name of honor, more than I fear death."

"I love the name of honor, more than I fear death."

Julius Caesar, Roman Leader

Courage, Death, Love, Fear, Honor

21

"When a person is determined to believe something, the very absurdity of the doctrine confirms them in their faith."

"When a person is determined to believe something, the very absurdity of the doctrine confirms them in their faith."

Junius, Roman Satirist

Faith, Absurdity, Doctrine

21

"Man is not man, but a wolf to those he does not know."

"Man is not man, but a wolf to those he does not know."

Titus Maccius Plautus, Roman Poet

21

"In a state where corruption abounds, laws must be very numerous."

"In a state where corruption abounds, laws must be very numerous."

Tacitus, Roman Historian

Corruption, Laws, State

21

"He has the deed half done who has made a beginning."

"He has the deed half done who has made a beginning."

Horace, Roman Poet

Beginning, Deed

21

"Drunkenness is nothing but voluntary madness."

"Drunkenness is nothing but voluntary madness."

Seneca, Roman Philosopher

Madness, Nothing

20

"A horse never runs so fast as when he has other horses to catch up and outpace."

"A horse never runs so fast as when he has other horses to catch up and outpace."

Ovid, Roman Poet

Competition, Horses

20

"Home is where the heart is."

"Home is where the heart is."

Pliny the Elder, Roman Author

20

"Give way to your opponent; thus will you gain the crown of victory."

"Give way to your opponent; thus will you gain the crown of victory."

Ovid, Roman Poet

Victory, Gain, Will

20

"Where there are friends there is wealth."

"Where there are friends there is wealth."

Titus Maccius Plautus, Roman Poet

Friendship, Wealth, Friends

20

"Take the word of experience, I speak the truth: inaction is safest in danger."

"Take the word of experience, I speak the truth: inaction is safest in danger."

Silius Italicus, Roman Poet

Experience, Danger, Inaction, Word

20

"Hunger for gold is made greater as more gold is acquired."

"Hunger for gold is made greater as more gold is acquired."

Aurelius Prudentius, Roman Poet

20

"There is a holy, mistaken zeal in politics, as well as in religion. By persuading others, we convince ourselves."

"There is a holy, mistaken zeal in politics, as well as in religion. By persuading others, we convince ourselves."

Junius, Roman Satirist

Politics, Religion, Zeal

20

"A child is owed the greatest respect; if you have ever have something disgraceful in mind, don't ignore your son's tender years."

"A child is owed the greatest respect; if you have ever have something disgraceful in mind, don't ignore your son's tender years."

Juvenal, Roman Poet

Family, Son, Mind, Respect, Years

20

"Friendship is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies."

"Friendship is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies."

Titus Maccius Plautus, Roman Poet

Friendship, Soul

20

"Valor is of no service, chance rules all, and the bravest often fall by the hands of cowards."

"Valor is of no service, chance rules all, and the bravest often fall by the hands of cowards."

Tacitus, Roman Historian

Chance, Cowards, Rules, Service

20

"The liberty of the Press is the Palladium of all the civil, political and religious rights of an Englishman."

"The liberty of the Press is the Palladium of all the civil, political and religious rights of an Englishman."

Junius, Roman Satirist

Rights, Liberty, Press, Religious

20

"Glory follows virtue as if it were its shadow."

"Glory follows virtue as if it were its shadow."

Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman Statesman

Virtue, Glory, Shadow

20

"Hug the shore; let others try the deep."

"Hug the shore; let others try the deep."

Virgil, Roman Poet

20

"A mouse does not rely on just one hole."

"A mouse does not rely on just one hole."

Plautus, Roman Playwright

20

"If there is a God, whence proceed so many evils? If there is no God, whence cometh any good?"

"If there is a God, whence proceed so many evils? If there is no God, whence cometh any good?"

Boethius, Roman Philosopher

20

"Nothing is so wretched or foolish as to anticipate misfortunes. What madness is it to be expecting evil before it comes."

"Nothing is so wretched or foolish as to anticipate misfortunes. What madness is it to be expecting evil before it comes."

Seneca, Roman Philosopher

Evil, Madness, Nothing

20

"It is your concern when your neighbor's wall is on fire."

"It is your concern when your neighbor's wall is on fire."

Horace, Roman Poet

20

"Silence is one of the great arts of conversation."

"Silence is one of the great arts of conversation."

Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman Statesman

Conversation, Silence

20

"Love is a credulous thing."

"Love is a credulous thing."

Ovid, Roman Poet

20

"In my opinion, he only may be truly said to live and enjoy his being who is engaged in some laudable pursuit, and acquires a name by some illustrious action, or useful art."

"In my opinion, he only may be truly said to live and enjoy his being who is engaged in some laudable pursuit, and acquires a name by some illustrious action, or useful art."

Sallust, Roman Historian

Art, Action, Being, May

20

"Bear and endure: This sorrow will one day prove to be for your good."

"Bear and endure: This sorrow will one day prove to be for your good."

Ovid, Roman Poet

Endurance, Day, Sorrow, Will

20

"An angry man opens his mouth and shuts his eyes."

"An angry man opens his mouth and shuts his eyes."

Cato, Roman Statesman

20

"That which prematurely arrives at perfection soon perishes."

"That which prematurely arrives at perfection soon perishes."

Marcus Fabius Quintilian, Roman Philosopher

Knowledge, Perfection

20

"Myself acquainted with misfortune, I learn to help the unfortunate."

"Myself acquainted with misfortune, I learn to help the unfortunate."

Virgil, Roman Poet

Help, Misfortune

20

"The lamp burns bright when wick and oil are clean."

"The lamp burns bright when wick and oil are clean."

Ovid, Roman Poet

20

"He who would not be idle, let him fall in love."

"He who would not be idle, let him fall in love."

Ovid, Roman Poet

20

"Name me an emperor who was ever struck by a cannonball."

"Name me an emperor who was ever struck by a cannonball."

Charles V, Roman Royalty

20

"God is best known in not knowing him."

"God is best known in not knowing him."

Saint Augustine, Algerian Saint

God, Saint Aurelius Augustine, Roman, Theologian

19

"Do not disturb yourself by picturing your life as a whole; do not assemble in your mind the many and varied troubles which have come to you in the past and will come again in the future, but ask yourself with regard to every present difficulty: 'What is there in this that is unbearable and beyond endurance?' You would be ashamed to confess it! And then remind yourself that it is not the future or what has passed that afflicts you, but always the present, and the power of this is much diminished if you take it in isolation and call your mind to task if it thinks that it cannot stand up to it when taken on its own."

"Do not disturb yourself by picturing your life as a whole; do not assemble in your mind the many and varied troubles which have come to you in the past and will come again in the future, but ask yourself with regard to every present difficulty: 'What is there in this that is unbearable and beyond endurance?' You would be ashamed to confess it! And then remind yourself that it is not the future or what has passed that afflicts you, but always the present, and the power of this is much diminished if you take it in isolation and call your mind to task if it thinks that it cannot stand up to it when taken on its own."

Marcus Aurelius, Roman Soldier

Stoicism, Present, Mindfulness, Wisdom

19

"It is not that you do wrong by design, but that you should never do right by mistake."

"It is not that you do wrong by design, but that you should never do right by mistake."

Junius, Roman Satirist

Design, Mistake, Right, Wrong

19

"It is a good thing to learn caution from the misfortunes of others."

"It is a good thing to learn caution from the misfortunes of others."

Publilius Syrus, Roman Writer

Wisdom, Caution

19

"He that fights and runs away, May turn and fight another day; But he that is in battle slain, Will never rise to fight again."

"He that fights and runs away, May turn and fight another day; But he that is in battle slain, Will never rise to fight again."

Tacitus, Roman Historian

Battle, Day, Fight, May

19

"Distinguished ancestors shed a powerful light on their descendants, and forbid the concealment either of their merits or of their demerits."

"Distinguished ancestors shed a powerful light on their descendants, and forbid the concealment either of their merits or of their demerits."

Sallust, Roman Historian

19

"In strife who inquires whether stratagem or courage was used?"

"In strife who inquires whether stratagem or courage was used?"

Virgil, Roman Poet

19

"Happy the man who has been able to learn the causes of things."

"Happy the man who has been able to learn the causes of things."

Virgil, Roman Poet

Cause, Causes, Man

19

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