Quotes by Roman Authors | Beyond Motive 8/38

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Quotes by Roman Authors

"No man pleases by silence; many I please by speaking briefly."

"No man pleases by silence; many I please by speaking briefly."

Ausonius, Roman Poet

15

"Custom is second nature."

"Custom is second nature."

Saint Augustine, Algerian Saint

Nature, Custom, Saint Aurelius Augustine, Roman

15

"Fear is proof of a degenerate mind."

"Fear is proof of a degenerate mind."

Virgil, Roman Poet

Fear, Mind, Proof

15

"It is only the ignorant who despise education."

"It is only the ignorant who despise education."

Publilius Syrus, Roman Writer

15

"A liar should have a good memory."

"A liar should have a good memory."

Quintilian, Roman Educator

15

"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

15

"In these matters the only certainty is that nothing is certain."

"In these matters the only certainty is that nothing is certain."

Pliny the Elder, Roman Author

Certainty, Nothing

15

"Observe the movements of the stars as if you were running their courses with them, and let your mind constantly dwell on the changes of the elements into each other. Such imaginings wash away the filth of life on the ground."

"Observe the movements of the stars as if you were running their courses with them, and let your mind constantly dwell on the changes of the elements into each other. Such imaginings wash away the filth of life on the ground."

Marcus Aurelius, Roman Soldier

Cosmos, Stars, Imagination, Change

15

"Passion and strife bow down the mind."

"Passion and strife bow down the mind."

Virgil, Roman Poet

15

"Too much liberty corrupts us all."

"Too much liberty corrupts us all."

Terence, Roman Writer

15

"Many who seem to be struggling with adversity are happy; many, amid great affluence, are utterly miserable."

"Many who seem to be struggling with adversity are happy; many, amid great affluence, are utterly miserable."

Tacitus, Roman Historian

15

"A good reputation is more valuable than money."

"A good reputation is more valuable than money."

Publilius Syrus, Roman Writer

Moderation, Money, Reputation

15

"Noble character is best appreciated in those ages in which it can most readily develop."

"Noble character is best appreciated in those ages in which it can most readily develop."

Tacitus, Roman Historian

15

"The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise."

"The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise."

Tacitus, Roman Historian

15

"What each man feared would happen to himself, did not trouble him when he saw that it would ruin another."

"What each man feared would happen to himself, did not trouble him when he saw that it would ruin another."

Virgil, Roman Poet

Man, Ruin, Trouble

15

"Human nature is so constituted, that all see and judge better in the affairs of other men than in their own."

"Human nature is so constituted, that all see and judge better in the affairs of other men than in their own."

Terence, Roman Writer

Nature, Men, Humannature

15

"There is no person so severely punished, as those who subject themselves to the whip of their own remorse."

"There is no person so severely punished, as those who subject themselves to the whip of their own remorse."

Seneca, Roman Philosopher

Remorse, Statesman, Lucius Annaeus Seneca

15

"Censure acquits the raven, but pursues the dove."

"Censure acquits the raven, but pursues the dove."

Juvenal, Roman Poet

Criticism, Censure

15

"Honor is the reward of virtue."

"Honor is the reward of virtue."

Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman Statesman

Virtue, Honor, Reward

15

"It is human nature to hate the man whom you have hurt."

"It is human nature to hate the man whom you have hurt."

Tacitus, Roman Historian

Nature, Hate, Humannature, Hurt

15

"Ability without honor is useless."

"Ability without honor is useless."

Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman Statesman

15

"While we are examining into everything we sometimes find truth where we least expected it."

"While we are examining into everything we sometimes find truth where we least expected it."

Marcus Fabius Quintilian, Roman Philosopher

15

"No guest is so welcome in a friend's house that he will not become a nuisance after three days."

"No guest is so welcome in a friend's house that he will not become a nuisance after three days."

Titus Maccius Plautus, Roman Poet

Friendship, Friend, Guest, Will

15

"It is easy at any moment to surrender a large fortune; to build one up is a difficult and an arduous task."

"It is easy at any moment to surrender a large fortune; to build one up is a difficult and an arduous task."

Titus Livius, Roman Historian

Fortune, Surrender

15

"Hope is patience with the lamp lit."

"Hope is patience with the lamp lit."

Tertullian, Roman Author

15

"But meanwhile time flies; it flies never to be regained."

"But meanwhile time flies; it flies never to be regained."

Virgil, Roman Poet

15

"In a change of masters the poor change nothing except their master's name."

"In a change of masters the poor change nothing except their master's name."

Phaedrus, Roman Poet

Change, Name, Nothing, Poor

15

"Things are not always as they seem; the first appearance deceives many."

"Things are not always as they seem; the first appearance deceives many."

Phaedrus, Roman Poet

Appearance, First

15

"Before you act, consider; when you have considered, tis fully time to act."

"Before you act, consider; when you have considered, tis fully time to act."

Sallust, Roman Historian

15

"Funny how we do not realize the true value and legacy of a living icon until they suddenly pass away. Truth is, there are many living legends among us, we just do not stop and take time to notice their worth until it's too late."

"Funny how we do not realize the true value and legacy of a living icon until they suddenly pass away. Truth is, there are many living legends among us, we just do not stop and take time to notice their worth until it's too late."

Germany Kent, Roman Soldier

Legacy, Values, Truth, Awareness

15

"What, if as said, man is a bubble."

"What, if as said, man is a bubble."

Marcus Terentius Varro, Roman Author

15

"So many men, so many opinions."

"So many men, so many opinions."

Terence, Roman Writer

Man, Men, Opinions

15

"The number of guests at dinner should not be less than the number of the Graces nor exceed that of the Muses, i.e., it should begin with three and stop at nine."

"The number of guests at dinner should not be less than the number of the Graces nor exceed that of the Muses, i.e., it should begin with three and stop at nine."

Marcus Terentius Varro, Roman Author

Lifestyle, Guests

15

"Cease to inquire what the future has in store, and take as a gift whatever the day brings forth."

"Cease to inquire what the future has in store, and take as a gift whatever the day brings forth."

Horace, Roman Poet

Adaptability, Day, Future

15

"While fools shun one set of faults they run into the opposite one."

"While fools shun one set of faults they run into the opposite one."

Horace, Roman Poet

Mistake, Faults, Fools

15

"Success is not greedy, as people think, but insignificant. That is why it satisfies nobody."

"Success is not greedy, as people think, but insignificant. That is why it satisfies nobody."

Seneca, Roman Philosopher

Success, People, Statesman

15

"You can take a chance with any man who pays his bills on time."

"You can take a chance with any man who pays his bills on time."

Terence, Roman Writer

Time, Chance, Man

15

"From the philosopher Catulus, never to be dismissive of a friend's accusation, even if it seems unreasonable, but to make every effort to restore the relationship to its normal condition."

"From the philosopher Catulus, never to be dismissive of a friend's accusation, even if it seems unreasonable, but to make every effort to restore the relationship to its normal condition."

Marcus Aurelius, Roman Soldier

Friendship, Trust, Conflict, Effort

15

"If fortune favors you do not be elated; if she frowns do not despond."

"If fortune favors you do not be elated; if she frowns do not despond."

Ausonius, Roman Poet

Self-Awareness, Favors, Fortune

15

"Nothing is said that has not been said before."

"Nothing is said that has not been said before."

Terence, Roman Writer

15

"It shows nobility to be willing to increase your debt to a man to whom you already owe much."

"It shows nobility to be willing to increase your debt to a man to whom you already owe much."

Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman Statesman

Debt, Man, Nobility

15

"It is difficult not to write satire."

"It is difficult not to write satire."

Juvenal, Roman Poet

15

"Arguments about Scripture achieve nothing but a stomachache and a headache."

"Arguments about Scripture achieve nothing but a stomachache and a headache."

Tertullian, Roman Author

Religion, Arguments, Nothing, Scripture

15

"Cunning leads to knavery. It is but a step from one to the other, and that very slippery. Only lying makes the difference; add that to cunning, and it is knavery."

"Cunning leads to knavery. It is but a step from one to the other, and that very slippery. Only lying makes the difference; add that to cunning, and it is knavery."

Ovid, Roman Poet

Deception, Cunning, Difference, Knavery, Lying

15

"Let a fool hold his tongue and he will pass for a sage."

"Let a fool hold his tongue and he will pass for a sage."

Publilius Syrus, Roman Writer

Silence, Fool, Tongue, Will

15

"Every bad precedent originated as a justifiable measure."

"Every bad precedent originated as a justifiable measure."

Sallust, Roman Historian

Precedent, Measure

15

"You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength."

"You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength."

Marcus Aurelius, Roman Soldier

Power, Strength, Events, Mind

15

"Perfection of character is this: to live each day as if it were your last, without frenzy, without apathy, without pretence."

"Perfection of character is this: to live each day as if it were your last, without frenzy, without apathy, without pretence."

Marcus Aurelius, Roman Soldier

Character, Perfection, Life, Presence

15

"Familiarity breeds contempt."

"Familiarity breeds contempt."

Publilius Syrus, Roman Writer

Familiarity, Contempt

15

"Practice is the best of all instructors."

"Practice is the best of all instructors."

Publilius Syrus, Roman Writer

15

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