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Quotes by Persius
23 quotations from The Cyclopedia of Practical Quotations (1896), with the subject each one is filed under.
An erit, qui velle recuset Os populi meruisse? et cedro digna locutus Linquere, nec scombros metuentia carmina nec thus. Lives there the man with soul so dead as to disown the wish to merit the people's applause, and having uttered words worthy to be kept in cedar oil to latest times, to leave behind him rhymes that dread neither herrings nor frankincense.— filed under Ambition
Dixi omnia, quum hominem nominavi. After I have named the man, I need say no more. PLINY the Younger-Epistolæ. IV. 22. Optimum et emendatissimum existimo, qui ceteris ita ignoscit, tanquam ipse quotidie peccet; ita peccatis abstinet, tanquam memini ignoscat. The highest of characters, in my estimation, is his, who is as ready to pardon the moral errors of mankind, as if he were every day guilty of some himself; and at the same time as cautious of committing a fault as if he never forgave one. PLINY the Younger-Epistolæ. VIII. 22. Tecum habita, et nôris quam sit tibi curta supellex. Retire within thyself, and thou will discover how small a stock is there. PERSIUS. Satiræ. IV. 52. Udum et molle lutum es: nunc, nunc properandus et acri Fingendus sine fine rotâ. Thou art moist and soft clay; thou must instantly be shaped by the glowing wheel.— filed under Character
Fronte politus Astutam vapido servas sub pectore vulpem Though thy face is glossed with specious art, thou retainest the cunning fox beneath thy vapid breast.— filed under Deceit
Respue quod non es. Do not attempt to do what you cannot. S.— filed under Deeds
Velle suum cuique est, nec voto vivitur uno. Each man has his own desires; all do not possess the same inclinations.— filed under Desire
Vertentem sese, frustra sectabere cantum Cum rota posterior curras et in axe secundo. Thou, like the hindmost chariot wheels, art curst Still to be near but never to be first.— filed under Failure
At pulchrum est digito monstrari et dicier hic est. It is pleasing to be pointed at with the finger and to have it said, "There goes the man." C.— filed under Fame
Geminos, horoscope, varo Producis genio. O natal star, thou producest twins of widely different character.— filed under Fate
Quantum est in rebus inane! How much folly there is in human affairs. S.— filed under Folly
An quisquam est alius liber, nisi ducere vitam Cui licet, ut voluit? Is any man free except the one who can pass his life as he pleases?— filed under Freedom
Inter pocula. Over their cups.— filed under Habit
Magister artis ingenique largitor venter. Hunger is the teacher of the arts, and the bestower of invention.— filed under Hunger
De nihilo nihil, in nihilum nil posse resciti. Out of nothing nothing can come, and nothing can become nothing.— filed under Immortality
Ego te intus et in cute novi. I know the man within and without.— filed under Labor
Scire tuum nihil est, nisi te scire hoc sciat alter? Is then thy knowledge of no value, unless another know that thou possessest that knowledge?— filed under Labor
Falsa orthographia, sive falsa grammatica, non vitiat concessionem. False spelling or false grammar does not vitiate a grant. Law Maxim. Negatas artifex sequi voces. He attempts to use language which he does not know.— filed under Language
Magister artis ingeniique largitor venter. The belly is the teacher of art and the bestower of genius.— filed under Opinion
IV. 9. Verba togæ sequeris, junctura callidus acri, Ore teres modico, pallentes radere mores Doctus, et ingenuo culpam defigere ludo. Confined to common life thy numbers flow, And neither soar too high nor sink too low; There strength and ease in graceful union meet, Though polished, subtle, and though poignant, sweet; Yet powerful to abash the front of crime And crimson error's cheek with sportive rhyme. S.— filed under Poetry
To be pointed out with the finger.— filed under Reputation
Virtutem videant, intabescantque relictâ. Let them (the wicked) see the beauty of virtue, and pine at having forsaken her.— filed under Virtue
Cum altera lux venit Jam cras hesternum consumpsimus; ecce aliud cras Egerit hos annos, et semper paulum erit ultra. When another day has arrived, we will find that we have consumed our yesterday's to-morrow; another morrow will urge on our years, and still be a little beyond us.— filed under Generosity
Mille hominum species et rerum discolor usus; Velle suum cuique est nec voto vivitur uno. There are a thousand kinds of men, and their sense of things is various: each has his own inclination, nor do all live for the same object.— filed under Lying
Dare pondus idonea fumo. Fit to give weight to smoke.— filed under Xxiv