Quotes by Roman Authors | Beyond Motive 5/42

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Quotes by Roman Authors

"Nothing is more unreliable than the populace, nothing more obscure than human intentions, nothing more deceptive than the whole electoral system."

"Nothing is more unreliable than the populace, nothing more obscure than human intentions, nothing more deceptive than the whole electoral system."

Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman Statesman

Reliability, Intentions, Nothing

42

"You can accomplish by kindness what you cannot by force."

"You can accomplish by kindness what you cannot by force."

Publilius Syrus, Roman Writer

Kindness, Force

42

"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need."

"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need."

Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman Statesman

Gardening, Garden

42

"What once were vices are now manners."

"What once were vices are now manners."

Seneca, Roman Philosopher

Philosophy, Manners, Change, Perception, Time

42

"The injustice done to an individual is sometimes of service to the public."

"The injustice done to an individual is sometimes of service to the public."

Junius, Roman Satirist

Injustice, Public, Service

41

"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

41

"A good reputation is more valuable than money."

"A good reputation is more valuable than money."

Publilius Syrus, Roman Writer

Moderation, Money, Reputation

41

"The entire fruit is already present in the seed."

"The entire fruit is already present in the seed."

Tertullian, Roman Author

41

"Veiling truth in mystery."

"Veiling truth in mystery."

Virgil, Roman Poet

41

"Truth engenders hatred of truth. As soon as it appears, it is the enemy."

"Truth engenders hatred of truth. As soon as it appears, it is the enemy."

Tertullian, Roman Author

Truth, Enemy, Hatred

41

"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

41

"Patience is the best remedy for every trouble."

"Patience is the best remedy for every trouble."

Titus Maccius Plautus, Roman Poet

Patience, Trouble

41

"The gods behold all righteous actions."

"The gods behold all righteous actions."

Ovid, Roman Poet

God, Gods, Actions

41

"Cease to think that the decrees of the gods can be changed by prayers."

"Cease to think that the decrees of the gods can be changed by prayers."

Virgil, Roman Poet

41

"When men are full of envy they disparage everything, whether it be good or bad."

"When men are full of envy they disparage everything, whether it be good or bad."

Tacitus, Roman Historian

41

"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

41

"A friend is, as it were, a second self."

"A friend is, as it were, a second self."

Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman Statesman

Friendship, Friend, Self

41

"For greed all nature is too little."

"For greed all nature is too little."

Seneca, Roman Philosopher

Nature, Greed, Statesman

41

"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

41

"The penalty may be removed, the crime is eternal."

"The penalty may be removed, the crime is eternal."

Ovid, Roman Poet

41

"So you must not think a man has lived long because he has white hair and wrinkles: he has not lived long, just existed long. For suppose you should think that a man had had a long voyage who had been caught in a raging storm as he left harbour, and carried hither and thither and driven round and round in a circle by the rage opposing winds. He did not have a long voyage, just a long tossing about."

"So you must not think a man has lived long because he has white hair and wrinkles: he has not lived long, just existed long. For suppose you should think that a man had had a long voyage who had been caught in a raging storm as he left harbour, and carried hither and thither and driven round and round in a circle by the rage opposing winds. He did not have a long voyage, just a long tossing about."

Seneca, Roman Philosopher

Philosophy, Experience, Life, Reflection, Journey

41

"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

41

"Life is like a play: it's not the length, but the excellence of the acting that matters."

"Life is like a play: it's not the length, but the excellence of the acting that matters."

Seneca, Roman Philosopher

Purpose, Life, Art, Excellence, Time

41

"It is foolish to tear one's hair in grief, as though sorrow would be made less by baldness."

"It is foolish to tear one's hair in grief, as though sorrow would be made less by baldness."

Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman Statesman

Grief, Hair, Sorrow

40

"In comparing various authors with one another, I have discovered that some of the gravest and latest writers have transcribed, word for word, from former works, without making acknowledgment."

"In comparing various authors with one another, I have discovered that some of the gravest and latest writers have transcribed, word for word, from former works, without making acknowledgment."

Pliny the Elder, Roman Author

Authors, Word, Writers

40

"Most honorable are services rendered to the State; even if they do not go beyond words, they are not to be despised."

"Most honorable are services rendered to the State; even if they do not go beyond words, they are not to be despised."

Sallust, Roman Historian

Service, State, Words

40

"He only seems to me to live, and to make proper use of life, who sets himself some serious work to do, and seeks the credit of a task well and skillfully performed."

"He only seems to me to live, and to make proper use of life, who sets himself some serious work to do, and seeks the credit of a task well and skillfully performed."

Sallust, Roman Historian

Life, Work, Credit

40

"In doing what we ought we deserve no praise, because it is our duty."

"In doing what we ought we deserve no praise, because it is our duty."

Saint Augustine, Algerian Saint

Duty, Praise, Saint Aurelius Augustine, Roman

40

"Passion and strife bow down the mind."

"Passion and strife bow down the mind."

Virgil, Roman Poet

40

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

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

Virgil, Roman Poet

40

"An object in possession seldom retains the same charm that it had in pursuit."

"An object in possession seldom retains the same charm that it had in pursuit."

Pliny the Elder, Roman Author

Acquisition, Charm, Possession, Pursuit

40

"To refrain from imitation is the best revenge."

"To refrain from imitation is the best revenge."

Marcus Aurelius, Roman Soldier

Revenge, Imitation

40

"Home is where the heart is."

"Home is where the heart is."

Pliny the Elder, Roman Author

40

"Good health and good sense are two of life's greatest blessings."

"Good health and good sense are two of life's greatest blessings."

Publilius Syrus, Roman Writer

Wisdom, Health, Life, Blessings, Sense

40

"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

40

"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

40

"Time flies never to be recalled."

"Time flies never to be recalled."

Virgil, Roman Poet

40

"What region of the earth is not full of our calamities?"

"What region of the earth is not full of our calamities?"

Virgil, Roman Poet

40

"I came, I saw, God conquered."

"I came, I saw, God conquered."

Charles V, Roman Royalty

40

"Time is flying never to return."

"Time is flying never to return."

Virgil, Roman Poet

40

"Toil and pleasure, dissimilar in nature, are nevertheless united by a certain natural bond."

"Toil and pleasure, dissimilar in nature, are nevertheless united by a certain natural bond."

Titus Livius, Roman Historian

Nature, Pleasure, United

40

"The best plan is to profit by the folly of others."

"The best plan is to profit by the folly of others."

Pliny the Elder, Roman Author

40

"Persevere and preserve yourselves for better circumstances."

"Persevere and preserve yourselves for better circumstances."

Virgil, Roman Poet

Circumstance, Circumstances

40

"Everyone wishes that the man whom he fears would perish."

"Everyone wishes that the man whom he fears would perish."

Ovid, Roman Poet

40

"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

40

"It is not every question that deserves an answer."

"It is not every question that deserves an answer."

Publilius Syrus, Roman Writer

Silence, Question

40

"Revenge is an inhuman word."

"Revenge is an inhuman word."

Seneca, Roman Philosopher

Ethics, Revenge, Humanity, Morality, Emotion

40

"However much you possess there's someone else who has more, and you'll be fancying yourself to be short of things you need to exact extent to which you lag behind him."

"However much you possess there's someone else who has more, and you'll be fancying yourself to be short of things you need to exact extent to which you lag behind him."

Seneca, Roman Philosopher

Envy, Comparison, Greed, Discontent

40

"Never does nature say one thing and wisdom another."

"Never does nature say one thing and wisdom another."

Juvenal, Roman Poet

40

"If I err in belief that the souls of men are immortal, I gladly err, nor do I wish this error which gives me pleasure to be wrested from me while I live."

"If I err in belief that the souls of men are immortal, I gladly err, nor do I wish this error which gives me pleasure to be wrested from me while I live."

Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman Statesman

Man, Men, Belief, Error, Pleasure

40

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