Roman Quotes

It is the function of perfection to make one know one's imperfection.

A letter does not blush.

Set honor in one eye and death in th' other, and I will look on both indifferently. I love then name of honor more than I fear death.

Every man can tell how many goats or sheep he possesses, but not how many friends.

Persistence in a single view has never been regarded as a merit in political leaders.

The proof of a well-trained mind is that it rejoices in which is good and grieves at the opposite.

In what is necessary, unity; in what is not necessary, liberty and in all things charity.

Victory is by nature insolent and haughty.

Does the light of the lamp shine without losing its splendour until it is extinguished; and shall the truth which is in thee and justice and temperance be extinguished before thy death?

All things of the body stream away like a river, all things of the mind are dreams and delusion; life is warfare, and a visit to a strange land; the only lasting fame is oblivion.

Live each day as if it be your last.

As a result of a general defect of nature, we are either more confident or more fearful of unusual and unknown things.

The universal nature out of the universal substance, as if it were wax, now molds a horse, and when it has broken this up, it uses the material for a tree, then for a man, then for something else.

Live not one's life as though one had a thousand years, but live each day as the last.

The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing, in so far as it stands ready against the accidental and the unforeseen, and is not apt to fall.

Loss is nothing else but change, and change is Nature's delight.

Diligence which, as it avails in all things, is also of the utmost moment in pleading causes. Diligence is to be particularly cultivated by us; it is to be constantly exerted; it is capable of effecting almost everything.

Rightly defined philosophy is simply the love of wisdom.

To the wise, life is a problem; to the fool, a solution.

We should never so entirely avoid danger as to appear irresolute and cowardly; but, at the same time, we should avoid unnecessarily exposing ourselves to danger, than which nothing can be more foolish.

Remember that all is opinion. For what was said by the Cynic Monimus is manifest: and manifest too is the use of what was said, if a man receives what may be got out of it as far as it is true.

According to the law of nature it is only fair that no one should become richer through damages and injuries suffered by another.

All men are made one for another: either then teach them better or bear with them.

To freemen, threats are impotent.

No sensible man ever imputes inconsistency to another for changing his minds.

Hatred is inveterate anger.

The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.

Remember that to change your mind and follow him who sets you right is to be none the less free than you were before.

The precepts of the law are these: to live honestly, to injure no one, and to give everyone else his due.

Let a man practice the profession which he best knows.

No one sees what is before his feet: they scan the tracks of heaven.

No man has a right to lead such a life of contemplation as to forget in his own ease the service due to his neighbor.

It is difficult to persuade mankind that the love of virtue is the love of themselves.

Let not your mind run on what you lack as much as on what you have already.

A little flesh, a little breath, and a Reason to rule all - that is myself.

To err is human, but to persevere in error is only the act of a fool.

Wisdom is not only to be acquired, but enjoyed.

I seek the truth...it is only persistence in self-delusion and ignorance that does harm.

Anything in any way beautiful derives its beauty from itself and asks nothing beyond itself. Praise is no part of it, for nothing is made worse or better by praise.

In the morning, when you are sluggish about getting up, let this thought be present: 'I am rising to a man's work.'

Singing is a lover's thing.

Through doubt we arrive at the truth.

I came, I saw, I conquered.

Whenever you are about to find fault with someone, ask yourself the following question: What fault of mine most nearly resembles the one I am about to criticize?

You don't have to turn this into something. It doesn't have to upset you. Things can't shape our decisions by themselves.

There is pleasure in calm remembrance of a past sorrow.

Economy is a great revenue.[Lat., Magnum vectigal est parsimonia.]

Never esteem anything as of advantage to you that will make you break your word or lose your self-respect.

A good orator is pointed and impassioned.

Or is it your reputation that's bothering you? But look at how soon we're all forgotten. The abyss of endless time that swallows it all. The emptiness of those applauding hands. The people who praise us; how capricious they are, how arbitrary. And the tiny region it takes place. The whole earth a point in space - and most of it uninhabited.

I never heard of an old man forgetting where he had buried his money. Old people remember what interests them: the dates fixed for their lawsuits, and the names of their debtors and creditors.

The good man, though a slave, is free; the wicked, though he reigns, is a slave.

Live not as though there were a thousand years ahead of you. Fate is at your elbow; make yourself good while life and power are still yours.

A little time, and thou shalt close thy eyes; and him who has attended thee to thy grave, another soon will lament.

There is no praise in being upright, where no one can, or tries to corrupt you.

You cannot attain to charity except through humility.

If it's time for you to go, leave willingly - as you would to accomplish anything that can be done with grace and honor.

For outward show is a wonderful perverter of the reason.

A true friend is a sort of second self.

Let every action aim solely at the common good.