Quotes by Roman Authors | Beyond Motive 7/42

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Quotes by Roman Authors

"What once were vices are now manners."

"What once were vices are now manners."

Seneca, Roman Philosopher

Philosophy, Manners, Change, Perception, Time

47

"He gains everyone's approval who mixes the pleasant with the useful."

"He gains everyone's approval who mixes the pleasant with the useful."

Horace, Roman Poet

Hospitality, Approval

47

"Drunkenness is nothing but voluntary madness."

"Drunkenness is nothing but voluntary madness."

Seneca, Roman Philosopher

Madness, Nothing

46

"All things fade into the storied past, and in a little while are shrouded in oblivion."

"All things fade into the storied past, and in a little while are shrouded in oblivion."

Marcus Aurelius, Roman Soldier

Impermanence, Past, Time, Memory, History

46

"In the midst of the fountain of wit there arises something bitter, which stings in the very flowers."

"In the midst of the fountain of wit there arises something bitter, which stings in the very flowers."

Lucretius, Roman Poet

46

"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

46

"Passion and strife bow down the mind."

"Passion and strife bow down the mind."

Virgil, Roman Poet

46

"The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws."

"The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws."

Tacitus, Roman Historian

Law, Laws, State

46

"The best interpreter of the law is custom."

"The best interpreter of the law is custom."

Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman Statesman

46

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

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

Virgil, Roman Poet

46

"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

46

"The gods behold all righteous actions."

"The gods behold all righteous actions."

Ovid, Roman Poet

God, Gods, Actions

46

"Bad company is like a nail driven into a post, which, after the first and second blow, may be drawn out with little difficulty; but being once driven up to the head, the pincers cannot take hold to draw it out, but which can only be done by the destruction of the wood."

"Bad company is like a nail driven into a post, which, after the first and second blow, may be drawn out with little difficulty; but being once driven up to the head, the pincers cannot take hold to draw it out, but which can only be done by the destruction of the wood."

Saint Augustine, Algerian Saint

Being, Company, Destruction, Difficulty

46

"Valor is superior to number."

"Valor is superior to number."

Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus, Roman Writer

Expectation, Valor

46

"A shocking crime was committed on the unscrupulous initiative of few individuals, with the blessing of more, and amid the passive acquiescence of all."

"A shocking crime was committed on the unscrupulous initiative of few individuals, with the blessing of more, and amid the passive acquiescence of all."

Tacitus, Roman Historian

46

"It is the nurse that the child first hears, and her words that he will first attempt to imitate."

"It is the nurse that the child first hears, and her words that he will first attempt to imitate."

Quintilian, Roman Educator

Lifestyle, First, Will, Words

46

"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

46

"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

46

"Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others."

"Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others."

Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman Statesman

46

"No one is content with his own lot."

"No one is content with his own lot."

Horace, Roman Poet

Discontent, Comparison, Envy, Humanity

46

"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

46

"Revenge is an inhuman word."

"Revenge is an inhuman word."

Seneca, Roman Philosopher

Ethics, Revenge, Humanity, Morality, Emotion

46

"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

46

"The one who cannot restrain their anger will wish undone, what their temper and irritation prompted them to do."

"The one who cannot restrain their anger will wish undone, what their temper and irritation prompted them to do."

Horace, Roman Poet

Anger, Temper, Will

46

"What am I but a little flesh, a little breath, and the thinking part that rules the whole?"

"What am I but a little flesh, a little breath, and the thinking part that rules the whole?"

Marcus Aurelius, Roman Soldier

Existence, Breath, Life, Identity

46

"They laboriously do nothing."

"They laboriously do nothing."

Seneca, Roman Philosopher

Productivity, Idleness, Work, Effort, Emptiness

46

"If you have overcome your inclination and not been overcome by it, you have reason to rejoice."

"If you have overcome your inclination and not been overcome by it, you have reason to rejoice."

Titus Maccius Plautus, Roman Poet

46

"Might was the measure of right."

"Might was the measure of right."

Marcus Annaeus Lucan, Roman Poet

46

"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."

"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."

Seneca, Roman Philosopher

Success, Luck, Opportunity, Preparation

46

"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

46

"This above all makes history useful and desirable; it unfolds before our eyes a glorious record of exemplary actions."

"This above all makes history useful and desirable; it unfolds before our eyes a glorious record of exemplary actions."

Titus Livius, Roman Historian

History, Actions, Eyes

45

"Gentleness is the antidote for cruelty."

"Gentleness is the antidote for cruelty."

Phaedrus, Roman Poet

Character, Cruelty

45

"Everything that rises sets, and everything that grows, grows old."

"Everything that rises sets, and everything that grows, grows old."

Sallust, Roman Historian

45

"Too much liberty corrupts us all."

"Too much liberty corrupts us all."

Terence, Roman Writer

45

"Whether it be the heart to conceive, the understanding to direct, or the hand to execute."

"Whether it be the heart to conceive, the understanding to direct, or the hand to execute."

Junius, Roman Satirist

Heart, Understanding

45

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

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

Tertullian, Roman Author

45

"Of all the haunting moments of motherhood, few rank with hearing your own words come out of your daughter's mouth."

"Of all the haunting moments of motherhood, few rank with hearing your own words come out of your daughter's mouth."

Victoria Secunda, Roman Psychologist

Daughter, Hearing, Moments, Motherhood

45

"They who love dancing too much seem to have more brains in their feet than in their head."

"They who love dancing too much seem to have more brains in their feet than in their head."

Terence, Roman Writer

Love, Dancing, Feet

45

"Every man makes a god of his own desire."

"Every man makes a god of his own desire."

Virgil, Roman Poet

God, Desire, Man

45

"Nowadays those are rewarded who make right appear wrong."

"Nowadays those are rewarded who make right appear wrong."

Terence, Roman Writer

Injustice, Right, Wrong

45

"I much prefer a compliment, even if insincere, to sincere criticism."

"I much prefer a compliment, even if insincere, to sincere criticism."

Titus Maccius Plautus, Roman Poet

Criticism, Compliment

45

"Rome has grown since its humble beginnings that it is now overwhelmed by its own greatness."

"Rome has grown since its humble beginnings that it is now overwhelmed by its own greatness."

Titus Livius, Roman Historian

History, Greatness, Beginnings, Now, Rome

45

"The populace is like the sea motionless in itself, but stirred by every wind, even the lightest breeze."

"The populace is like the sea motionless in itself, but stirred by every wind, even the lightest breeze."

Titus Livius, Roman Historian

45

"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

45

"Time is flying never to return."

"Time is flying never to return."

Virgil, Roman Poet

45

"Next to God we are nothing. To God we are Everything."

"Next to God we are nothing. To God we are Everything."

Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman Statesman

45

"Fortune is like glass - the brighter the glitter, the more easily broken."

"Fortune is like glass - the brighter the glitter, the more easily broken."

Publilius Syrus, Roman Writer

45

"Nature soaks every evil with either fear or shame."

"Nature soaks every evil with either fear or shame."

Tertullian, Roman Author

Nature, Fear, Evil, Shame

45

"Victor and vanquished never unite in substantial agreement."

"Victor and vanquished never unite in substantial agreement."

Tacitus, Roman Historian

45

"Fortune favors the brave."

"Fortune favors the brave."

Terence, Roman Writer

Courage, Favors, Fortune

45

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