James Wood, comp. Dictionary of Quotations. 1899.
Cicero
Abiit, excessit, evasit, erupit—He has left, gone off, escaped, broken away.Of Catiline’s flight.
Accipere quam facere præstat injuriam—It is better to receive than to do an injury.
Acer et vehemens bonus orator—A good orator is pointed and impassioned.
Acerrimus ex omnibus nostris sensibus est sensus videndi—The keenest of all our senses is the sense of sight.
Actum ne agas—What has been done don’t do over again.
Adhibenda est in jocando moderatio—Moderation should be used in joking.
Adstrictus necessitate—Bound by necessity.
Æmulus atque imitator studiorum ac laborum—A rival and imitator of his studies and labours.
Agere considerate pluris est quam cogitare prudenter—It is of more consequence to act considerately than to think sagely.
All the arts affecting culture (i.e., the fine arts) have a certain common bond, and are connected by a certain blood relationship with each other.
Amici probantur rebus adversis—Friends are proved by adversity.
An quidquid stultius, quam quos singulos contemnas, eos aliquid putare esse universos?—Can there be any greater folly than the respect you pay to men collectively when you despise them individually?
Animus hominis semper appetit agere aliquid—The mind of man is always longing to do something.
Appetitus rationi pareat—Let reason govern desire.
Arbores serit diligens agricola, quarum aspiciet baccam ipse nunquam—The industrious husbandman plants trees, not one berry of which he will ever see.
Bellum ita suscipiatur, ut nihil aliud nisi pax quæsita videatur—War should be so undertaken that nothing but peace may seem to be aimed at.
Benefacta male locata, malefacta arbitror—Favours injudiciously conferred I reckon evils.
Beneficus est qui non sua, sed alterius causa benigne facit—He is beneficent who acts kindly, not for his own benefit, but for another’s.
Borrowing from Peter to pay Paul.
Breve tempus ætatis satis est longum ad bene honesteque vivendum—A short term on earth is long enough for a good and honourable life.
Brevis a natura nobis vita data est: at memoria bene redditæ vitæ est sempiterna—A short life has been given us by Nature, but the memory of a well-spent one is eternal.
Cari sunt parentes, cari liberi, propinqui, familiares; sed omnes omnium caritates, patria una complexa est—Dear are our parents, dear our children, our relatives, and our associates, but all our affections for all these are embraced in our affection for our native land.
Cedant arma togæ—Let the military yield to the civil power (lit. to the gown).
Certe ignoratio futurorum malorum utilius est quam scientia—It is more advantageous not to know than to know the evils that are coming upon us.
Consuetudinis magna vis est—The force of habit is great.
Cujusvis hominis est errare: nullius nisi insipientis in errore perseverare—Every one is liable to err; none but a fool will persevere in error.
Cultivation is as necessary to the mind as food to the body.
Cura ut valeas—Take care that you keep well.
De alieno largitor, et sui restrictor—Lavish of what is another’s, tenacious of his own.
Decet affectus animi neque se nimium erigere nec subjicere serviliter—We ought to allow the affections of the mind to be neither too much elated nor abjectly depressed.
Decet patriam nobis cariorem esse quam nosmetipsos—Our country ought to be dearer to us than ourselves.
Decorum ab honesto non potest separari—Propriety cannot be sundered from what is honourable.
Dedecet philosophum abjicere animum—It does not beseem a philosopher to be dejected.
Defectio virium adolescentiæ vitiis efficitur sæpius quam senectutis—Loss of strength is more frequently due to the faults of youth than of old age.
Dei plena sunt omnia—All things are full of God.
Derelictio communis utilitatis contra naturam—The abandonment of what is for the common good is a crime against nature.
Difficile est plurimum virtutem revereri, qui semper secunda fortuna sit usus—It is difficult for one who has enjoyed uninterrupted good fortune to have a due reverence for virtue.
Diligentia, qua una virtute omnes virtutes reliquæ continentur—Diligence, the one virtue that embraces in it all the rest.
Discrepant facta cum dictis—The facts don’t agree with the statements.
Dives est, cui tanta possessio est, ut nihil optet amplius—He is rich who wishes no more than he has.
Dubitando ad veritatem pervenimus—By way of doubting we arrive at the truth.
Dum lego, assentior—Whilst I read, I assent.
Dum tacent, clamant—While silent, they cry aloud, i.e., their silence bespeaks discontent.
Elocution is the adjustment of apt words and sentiments to the subject in debate.
Errare malo cum Platone, quam cum istis vera sentire—I had rather be wrong with Plato than think right with those men.
Est enim lex nihil aliud nisi recta et a numine deorum tracta ratio, imperans honesta, prohibens contraria—For law is nothing else but right reason supported by the authority of the gods, commanding what is honourable and prohibiting the contrary.
Est proprium stultitiæ aliorum cernere vitia, oblivisci suorum—It is characteristic of folly to discern the faults of others and forget its own.
Et monere, et moneri, proprium est veræ amicitiæ—To give counsel as well as take it, is a feature of true friendship.
Every generous action loves the public view, yet no theatre for virtue is equal to a consciousness of it.
Evolare rus ex urbe tanquam ex vinculis—To fly from the town into the country, as though from bonds.
Ex malis eligere minima—Of evils to choose the least.
Ex vita discedo, tanquam ex hospitio, non tanquam ex domo—I depart from life as from an inn, not as from a home.
Exile is terrible to those who have, as it were, a circumscribed habitation; but not to those who look upon the whole globe as one city.
Facta ejus cum dictis discrepant—His actions do not harmonise with his words.
Fit in dominatu servitus, in servitute dominatus—In the master there is the servant, and in the servant the master (lit. in masterhood is servanthood, in servanthood masterhood).
Fluctus in simpulo exitare—To raise a tempest in a teapot.
Fortis et constantis animi est, non perturbari in rebus asperis—It shows a brave and resolute spirit not to be agitated in exciting circumstances.
Fortitude is to be seen in toils and dangers; temperance in the denial of sensual pleasures; prudence in the choice between good and evil; justice in awarding to every one his due.
Fortuito quodam concursu atomorum—Certain fortuitous concourse of atoms.
Fortune favours the brave, as the old proverb says, but forethought much more.
Friendship is infinitely better than kindness.
Fundamentum est justitiæ fides—The foundation of justice is good faith.
Generosity should never exceed ability.
Gloriæ et famæ jactura facienda est, publicæ utilitatis causa—A surrender of glory and fame must be made for the public advantage.
Glory is the unanimous praise of good men.
Gone for ever is virtue, once so prevalent in the state, when men deem a mischievous citizen worse than its bitterest enemy, and punish him with severer penalties.
Gustatus est sensus ex omnibus maxime voluptarius—The sense of taste is the most exquisite of all.
Habeo senectuti magnam gratiam, quæ mihi sermonis aviditatem auxit—I owe it to old age, that my relish for conversation is so increased.
Hæc prima lex in amicitia sanciatur, ut neque rogemus res turpes, nec faciamus rogati—Be this the first law established in friendship, that we neither ask of others what is dishonourable, nor ourselves do it when asked.
Hæc scripsi non otii abundantia, sed amoris erga te—I have written this, not as having abundance of leisure, but out of love for you.
Hæc studia adolescentiam alunt, senectutem oblectant, secundas res ornant, adversis solatium ac perfugium præbent, delectant domi, non impediunt foris, pernoctant nobiscum, peregrinantur, rusticantur—These studies are the food of youth and the consolation of old age; they adorn prosperity and are the comfort and refuge of adversity; they are pleasant at home and are no encumbrance abroad; they accompany us at night, in our travels, and in our rural retreats.
Hæc vivendi ratio mihi non convenit—This mode of living does not suit me.
Hannibal ad portas—Hannibal is at the gates.
Has vaticinationes eventus comprobavit—The event has verified these predictions.
He is an eloquent man who can speak of low things acutely, and of great things with dignity, and of moderate things with temper.
He only employs his passion who can make no use of his reason.
He ought to remember benefits on whom they are conferred; he who confers them ought not to mention them.
Hic est mucro defensionis tuæ—This is the point of your defence.
His legibus solutis respublica stare non potest—With these laws repealed, the republic cannot last.
Hoc Herculi Iovis satu, edito’ potuit fortasse contingere, nobis non item—This might perchance happen to Hercules, of the seed royal of Jove, but not to us.
Hoc maxime officii est, ut quisquis maxime opus indigeat, ita ei potissimum opitulari—It is our prime duty to aid him first who most stands in need of our assistance.
Homines ad deos nulla re propius accedunt quam salutem hominibus dando—In nothing do men so nearly approach the gods as in giving health to men.
Homines proniores sunt ad voluptatem, quam ad virtutem—Men are more prone to pleasure than to virtue.
Homini necesse est mori—Man must die.
Homo constat ex duabus partibus, corpore et anima, quorum una est corporea, altera ab omni materiæ concretione sejuncta—Man is composed of two parts, body and soul, of which the one is corporeal, the other separated from all combination with matter.
Homo qui erranti comiter monstrat viam, / Quasi lumen de suo lumine accendit, facit; Nihilominus ipsi luceat, cum illi accenderit—He who kindly shows the way to one who has gone astray, acts as though he had lighted another’s lamp from his own, which both gives light to the other and continues to shine for himself.
Honestum quod vere dicimus, etiamsi a nullo laudatur, laudabile est sua natura—That which we truly call honourable is praiseworthy in its own nature, even though it should be praised by no one.
Honor est præmium virtutis—Honour is the reward of virtue.
Honos alit artes, omnesque incenduntur ad studia gloria—Honours encourage the arts, for all are incited towards studies by fame.
Horæ cedunt, et dies, et menses, et anni, nec præteritum tempus unquam revertitur—Hours and days, months and years, pass away, and time once past never returns.
Id maxime quemque decet, quod est cujusque maxime suum—That best becomes a man which is most peculiarly his own.
Ignoratione rerum bonarum et malarum, maxime hominum vita vexatur—Through ignorance of the distinction between good and bad, the life of men is greatly harassed.
Imperium et libertas—Empire and liberty.
In eadem re utilitas et turpitudo esse non potest—In the same thing usefulness and baseness cannot coexist.
In omni re vincit imitationem veritas—In everything truth surpasses its imitation or copy.
In referenda gratia, debemus imitari agros fertiles qui plus multo afferunt quam acceperunt—In repaying kindness, we ought to imitate fertile lands, which give back much more than they have received.
Incerti sunt exitus belli—The results of war are uncertain.
Intemperans adolescentia effetum corpus tradet senectuti—An incontinent youth will transmit a worn-out bodily frame to old age.
Inter amicos omnium rerum communitas—Among friends all things are common.
Inter arma leges silent—In the midst of arms the laws are silent.
Is mihi videtur amplissimus qui sua virtute in altiorem locum pervenit—He is in my regard the most illustrious man who has risen by his own virtues.
It is a grave offence to bind a Roman citizen, a crime to flog him, almost the act of a parricide to put him to death; what shall I call crucifying him? Language worthy of such an enormity it is impossible to find.
It is easier for a wit to keep fire in his mouth, than to hold in a witty saying that he is burning to tell.
It is fortune, not wisdom, that rules man’s life.
Jove tonante cum populo agi non est fas—When Jove thunders there must be no parleying with the people.
Jucunda est memoria præteritorum malorum—The recollection of past miseries is pleasant.
Jucundi acti labores—It is pleasant to think of labours that are past.
Judicia Dei sunt ita recondita ut quis illa scrutari nullatenus possit—The purposes of God are so abstruse that no one can possibly scrutinise them.
Judicis est innocentiæ subvenire—It is the duty of the judge to support innocence.
Juravi lingua, mentem injuratam gero—I have sworn with my tongue, but I bear a mind unsworn.
Jus civile neque inflecti gratia, neque perfringi potentia, neque adulterari pecunia debet—The law ought neither to be warped by favour, nor broken through by power, nor corrupted by money.
Justice consists in doing no injury to men; decency in giving no offence.
Justitiæ partes sunt, non violare homines verecundiæ non offendere—It is the office of justice to injure no man; of propriety, to offend none.
Justitia erga Deum religio dicitur; erga parentes pietas—The discharge of our duty towards God is called religion; towards our parents, piety.
Justitia est obtemperatio scriptis legibus—Justice is conformity to the written laws.
Justitia nihil expetit præmii—Justice seeks no reward.
Justitia tanta vis est, ut ne illi quidem, qui maleficio et scelere pascuntur, possint sine ulla particula justitiæ vivere—There is such force in justice, that those even who live by crime and wickedness cannot live without some small portion of it among them.
Lætus sum laudari a laudato viro—I am pleased to be praised by a man who is so praised as you are.
Leges ad civium salutem, civitatumque incolumitatem conditæ sunt—Laws were framed for the welfare of citizens and the security of states.
Leges sunt inventæ quæ cum omnibus semper una atque eadem voce loquerentur—Laws are so devised that they may always speak with one and the same voice to all.
Legum ministri magistratus, legum interpretes judices; legum denique idcirco omnes servi sumus, ut liberi esse possimus—The magistrates are the ministers of the laws, the judges their interpreters; we are all, in short, servants of the laws, that we may be free men.
Leviores sunt injuriæ, quæ repentino aliquo motu accidunt, quam eæ quæ meditate præparata inferuntur—The injuries which befall us unexpectedly are less severe than those which we are deliberately anticipating.
Libidinosa et intemperans adolescentia effœtum corpus tradit senectuti—A sensual and intemperate youth transmits to old age a worn-out body.
Life is to be considered happy, not in warding off evil, but in the acquisition of good: and this we should seek for by employment of some kind or by reflection.
Litteræ non erubescunt—A letter does not blush.
Magistratum legem esse loquentem, legem autem mutum magistratum—A judge is a speaking law, law a silent judge.
Magna est admiratio copiose sapienterque dicentis—Great is our admiration of the orator who speaks with fluency and discretion.
Magna est vis consuetudinis: hæc ferre laborem, contemnere vulnus et dolorem docet—Great is the power of habit: teaching us as it does to bear fatigue and to despise wounds and pain.
Magna vis est, magnum nomen, unum et idem sentientis senatus—Great is the power, great the authority, of a senate which is unanimous in its opinions.
Magni est ingenii revocare mentem a sensibus, et cogitationem a consuetudine abducere—It argues a mind of great native force to be able to emancipate itself from the thraldom of the senses, and to wean its thoughts from old habits.
Magnum vectigal est parsimonia—Thrift is a great revenue.
Major hereditas venit unicuique nostrum a jure et legibus, quam a parentibus—A more valuable inheritance falls to each of us in our civil and legal rights than comes to us from our fathers.
Malim indisertam prudentiam, quam stultitiam loquacem—I prefer sense that is faulty in expression to loquacious folly.
Malis avibus—With a bad omen (lit. with bad birds).
Malo cum Platone errare, quam cum aliis recte sentire—I had rather be wrong with Plato than think right with others.
Malum nascens facile opprimitur; inveteratum fit robustius—An evil habit is easily subdued in the beginning, but when it becomes inveterate it gains strength.
Malus est enim custos diuturnitatis metus, contraque benevolentia fidelis vel ad perpetuitatem—Fear is a bad preserver of that which is intended to last; whereas mildness and good-will ensure fidelity for ever.
Manum non verterim, digitum non porrexerim—I would not turn my hand or stretch out my finger.
Maxima illecebra est peccandi impunitatis spes—The greatest incitement to guilt is the hope of sinning with impunity.
Maximas virtutes jacere omnes necesse est, voluptate dominante—Where pleasure prevails, all the greatest virtues must lie dormant.
Medici, causa morbi inventa, curationem inventam putant—Physicians, when they have found out the cause of a disease, consider they have found out the cure.
Meliora sunt ea quæ natura, quam quæ arte perfecta sunt—The things which are perfect by nature are better than those which are perfect by art.
Memoria minuitur, nisi eam exerceas—Your power of recollection will wax feeble unless you exercise it.
Mendaci homini, ne verum quidem dicenti credere solemus—We give no credit to a liar, even when he speaks the truth.
Moderari animo et orationi, cum sis iratus, non mediocris ingenii est—To be able to temper your indignation and language when you are angry is evidence of a chastened disposition.
Mors laborum ac miseriarum quies est!—Death is repose from all our toils and miseries.
Mortales inimicitias, sempiternas amicitias—Be our enmities for time, our friendships for eternity.
Nascimur poetæ, fimus oratores—We are born poets, we become orators.
Natura ipsa valere, et mentis viribus excitari, et quasi quodam divino spiritu afflari—To be strong by nature, to be urged on by the native powers of the mind, and to be inspired by a divine spirit, as it were.
Ne quid falsi dicere audeat, ne quid veri non audeat—Let him not dare to say anything that is false, nor let him dare to say what is not true.
Nec domo dominus sed domino domus honestanda est—The master should not be graced by the mansion, but the mansion by the master.
Nec si non obstatur propterea etiam permittitur—That an act is not prohibited, it does not follow that it is permitted.
Negligere quid de se quisque sentiat, non solum arrogantis est, sed omnino dissoluti—To be careless of what others think of us, not only indicates an arrogant, but an utterly abandoned character.
Nemo doctus mutationem consilii inconstantiam dixit esse—No sensible man ever charged one with inconstancy who had merely changed his opinion.
Nemo est tam senex qui se annum non putat posse vivere—There is no man so old as not to think he may live a year longer.
Nemo vir magnus sine aliquo afflatu divino unquam fuit—There never was a great man who had not some divine inspiration.
Neque opinione sed natura constitutum est jus—Not in opinion, but in nature is law founded.
Nescire autem quid antea quam natus sis acciderit, id est semper esse puerum. Quid enim est ætas hominis, nisi memoria rerum veterum cum superioribus contexitur?—To be unacquainted with events which took place before you were born, is to be always a child; for where is human life if the memory fails to connect past events with others before?
Nihil est aptius ad delectationem lectoris, quam temporum varietates, fortunæque vicissitudines—Nothing contributes more to the entertainment of a reader than the changes of times and the vicissitudes of fortune.
Nihil est quod Deus efficere non possit—There is nothing which the Deity cannot effect.
Nihil est tam volucre quam maledictum, nihil facilius emittitur, nihil citius excipitur, nihil latius dissipatur—Nothing is so swift as calumny, nothing more easily uttered, nothing more readily received, nothing more widely disseminated.
Nihil honestum esse potest, quod justitia vacat—Nothing can be honourable where justice is absent.
Nihil tam absurdum dici potest ut non dicatur a philosopho—There is nothing so absurd but it may be said by a philosopher.
Nihil tam munitum est, quod non expugnari pecunia possit—Nothing is so strongly fortified that it cannot be taken by money.
No man can be brave who considers pain to be the greatest evil of life; nor temperate, who considers pleasure to be the highest good.
No man should be so much taken up in the search of truth, as thereby to neglect the more necessary duties of active life.
No theatre for virtue is equal to the consciousness of it.
Non agitur de vectigalibus, non de sociorum injuriis; libertas et anima nostra in dubio est—It is not a question of our revenues, nor of the wrongs of our allies; our liberty and very lives are in peril.In Sallust.
Non esse cupidum pecunia est: non esse emacem vectigal est—Not to be covetous is money: not to be extravagant is an estate.
Non est nostri ingenii—It is not within my range of ability.
Non intelligitur quando obrepit senectus—We do not perceive old age, seeing it creeps on apace.
Non intelligunt homines quam magnum vectigal sit parsimonia—Men do not understand what a great revenue economy is.
Non me pudet fateri nescire quod nesciam—I am not ashamed to confess myself ignorant of what I do not know.
Non nobis solum nati sumus—We are born not for ourselves alone.
Non omnibus dormio—Not for all do I sleep.
Non potest severus esse in judicando, qui alios in se severos esse judices non vult—He cannot be strict in judging who does not wish others to be strict judges of himself.
Not to know what has been transacted in former times is to continue always a child.
Novum et ad hunc diem non auditum—New, and unheard of till this day.
Noxiæ pœna par esto—Let the punishment be proportionate to the offence.
Nullus dolor est quem non longinquitas temporis minuat ac molliat—There is no sorrow which length of time will not diminish and soothe.
Nunquam se plus agere, quam nihil quum ageret; nunquam minus solum esse, quam quum solus esset—He said he never had more to do than when he had nothing to do, and never was less alone than when alone.Quoting Scipio Africanus.
O fallacem hominum spem—How deceitful is the hope of men.
O magna vis veritatis, quæ … facile se per se ipsa defendit—Oh, mighty force of truth that by itself so easily defends itself!
O tempora, O mores!—Oh, the times! oh, the manners!
Obruat illud male partum, male retentum, male gestum imperium—Let that power fall which has been wrongfully acquired, wrongfully retained, and wrongfully administered.
Oculi tanquam speculatores altissimum locum obtinent—The eyes, like sentinels, occupy the highest place in the body.
Oderint dum metuant—Let them show hate, provided they fear.
Odi puerulos præcoci ingenio—I hate boys of precocious talent.
Old age, especially an honoured old age, has so great authority, that it is of more value than all the pleasures of youth.
Omne animal seipsum diligit—Every animal loves itself.
Omne corpus mutabile est; ita efficitur ut omne corpus mortale sit—Every body is subject to change; hence it comes to pass that every body is subject to death.
Omne malum nascens facile opprimitur: inveteratum fit plerumque robustius—Every evil is easily crushed at its birth; when grown old, it generally becomes more obstinate.
Omnes omnium caritates patria una complectitur—Our country alone comprehends all our affections for all.
Omni ætati mors est communis—Death is common to every age.
Omnia præclara rara—All excellent things are rare.
Omnia profecto, cum se a cœlestibus rebus referet ad humanas, excelsius magnificentiusque et dicet et sentiet—When a man descends from heavenly things to human, he will certainly both speak and feel more loftily and nobly on every theme.
Omnia rerum principia parva sunt—All beginnings are small.
Omnibus bonis expedit rempublicam esse salvam—It is for the interest of every good man that the commonwealth shall be safe.
Omnis dolor aut est vehemens, aut levis; si levis, facile fertur, si vehemens, certe brevis futurus est—All pain is either severe or slight; if slight, it is easily borne; if severe, it will without doubt be brief.
Omnium rerum, ex quibus aliquid acquiritur, nihil est agricultura melius, nihil uberius, nihil dulcius, nihil homine libero dignius—Of all pursuits from which profit accrues, nothing is superior to agriculture, nothing more productive, nothing more enjoyable, nothing more worthy of a free man.
Opinionum enim commenta delet dies, naturæ judicia confirmat—Time effaces the fabrications of opinion, but confirms the judgments of Nature.
Pares cum paribus ut est in veteri proverbio facillime congregantur—As in the old proverb, “Like associates most naturally with like.”
Parsimonia est magnum vectigal—Thrift is a great revenue.
Patriæ solum omnibus caram est—The soil of their native land is dear to the hearts of all men.
Peace is liberty in tranquility.
Peccare licet nemini—No one has leave to sin.
Philosophy, rightly defined, is simply the love of wisdom.
Quales sunt summi civitatis viri talis est civitas—A community is as those who rule it.
Qualis sit animus, ipse animus nescit—What the soul is, the soul itself knows not.
Quam magnum vectigal sit parsimonia!—What a wonderful revenue lies in thrift!
Qui bene imperat, paruerit aliquando necesse est—He who is good at commanding must have some time been good at obeying.
Quis nescit, primam esse historiæ legem, ne quid falsi dicere audeat? Deinde ne quid veri non audeat?—Who does not know that it is the first law of history not to dare to say anything that is false, and the second not to dare to say anything that is not true?
Quod decet honestum est et quod honestum est decet—What is becoming is honourable, and what is honourable is becoming.
Ratio quasi quædam lux lumenque vitæ—Reason is, as it were, the guide and light of life.
Reason should direct, and appetite obey.
Res rustica—A rural affair.
Sæpe nihil inimicus homini quam sibi ipse—Often a man is his own worst enemy.
Sapiens nihil facit invitus; nihil dolens, nihil coactus—A wise man does nothing against his will, nothing with repining or under coercion.
Sapientissimus in septem—The wisest of the seven, viz., Thales.
Scientia quæ est remota a justitia, calliditas potius quam sapientia est appellanda—Knowledge which is divorced from justice may be called cunning rather than wisdom.
Senilis stultitia, quæ deliratio appellari solet, senum levium est, non omnium—The foolishness of old age, which is termed dotage, does not characterise all who are old, but only those who are frivolous.
Silence is one of the great arts of conversation.
Silent leges inter arma—Laws are silent in time of war.
Sine amicitia vitam esse nullam—There is no life without friendship.
Societatis vinculum est ratio et oratio—Reason and speech are the bond of society.
Socrates quidem quum rogaretur cujatem se esse diceret, Mundanum, inquit. Totius enim mundi se incolam et civem arbitrabatur—When Socrates was asked of what country he professed to be a citizen, he answered, “Of the world;” for he considered himself an inhabitant and citizen of the whole world.
“Solem præ jaculorum multitudine et sagittarum non videbis.” “In umbra igitur pugnabimus”—“You will not see the sun for the clouds of javelins and arrows.” “We shall fight in the shade then.”The Persian to Leonidas at Thermopylæ and Leonidas’ answer.
Somnus est imago mortis—Sleep is the image of death.
Suavis est laborum præteritorum memoria—Sweet is the memory of past trouble.
Summum jus sæpe summa injuria est—The strictest justice is often grossest injustice.
Suo Marte—By his own prowess.
Superstition is an unreasoning fear of God; religion consists in the pious worship of the gods.
Suum cuique tribuere, ea demum summa justitia est—To give to every man his due, that is supreme justice.
Tacitæ magis et occultæ inimicitiæ sunt, quam indictæ et opertæ—Enmities unavowed and concealed are more to be feared than when open and declared.
Tandem poculum mœroris exhausit—He has exhausted at last the cup of grief.
Tanti eris aliis, quanti tibi fueris—You will be of as much value to others as you have been to yourself.
Temeritas est florentis ætatis, prudentia senescentis—Rashness belongs to youth, prudence to old age.
Tempus est quædam pars æternitatis—Time is a certain fraction of eternity.
That elevation of mind which we see in moments of peril, if it is uncontrolled by justice, and strives only for its own advantage, becomes a crime.
The eyes being in the highest part, hold the post of sentinels.
The multitude of fools is a protection to the wise.
The way to avoid the imputation of impudence is not to be ashamed of what we do, but never to do what we ought to be ashamed of.
The wise are instructed by reason, ordinary minds by experience, the stupid by necessity, and brutes by instinct.
There are few who, either by extraordinary endowment or favour of fortune, have enjoyed the opportunity of deciding what mode of life in especial they would wish to embrace.
There are more men ennobled by study than by nature.
There never was a great man unless through Divine inspiration.
Those who injure one party to benefit another are quite as unjust as if they converted the property of others to their own benefit.
Tibi nullum periculum esse perspicio, quod quidem sejunctum sit ab omnium interitu—I can see no danger to which you are exposed, other than that which threatens the destruction of us all.
Time destroys the speculations of man, but it confirms the judgment of nature.
Unguis in ulcere—A nail in the wound.
Ut sementem feceris, ita et metes—As you have sown so shall you also reap.
Utinam tam facile vera invenire possem, quam falsa convincere!—Would that I could as easily find out the true as I can detect the false.
Vectigalia nervi sunt reipublicæ—Taxes are the sinews of the commonwealth.
Venia necessitati datur—Pardon is conceded to necessity.
Verus amicus est is qui est tanquam alter idem—A true friend is he who is, as it were, a second self.
Virtus hominem jungit Deo—Virtue unites man with God.
Vitæ philosophia dux, virtutis indagatrix—O philosophy, thou guide of life and discoverer of virtue.
Vitam regit fortuna, non sapientia—Fortune rules this life, and not wisdom.
Vivere est cogitare—Living is thinking.
Vulgus ex veritate pauca, ex opinione multa, æstimat—The masses judge of few things by the truth, of most things by opinion.
Wars should be undertaken in order that we may live in peace without suffering wrong.
We can more easily avenge an injury than requite a kindness; on this account, because there is less difficulty in getting the better of the wicked than in making one’s self equal with the good.
We have always considered taxes to be the sinews of the state.
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.
Well has Ennius said, “Kindnesses misplaced are nothing but a curse and disservice.”
What is becoming is honourable, and what is honourable is becoming.
Whatever is graceful is virtuous, and whatever is virtuous is graceful.
Whatever that be which thinks, which understands, which wills, which acts, it is something celestial and divine; and upon that account must necessarily be eternal.
Wise men are instructed by reason; men of less understanding, by experience; the most ignorant, by necessity; and beasts, by nature.
Wise sayings are as saltpits; you may extract salt out of them, and sprinkle it where you will.