Horace Quotes

Forgetful of thy tomb thou buildest houses.

He's arm'd without that's innocent within; Be this thy Screen, and this thy Wall of Brass.

He who cannot resist temptation is not a man. Whoever yields to temptation debases himself with a debasement from which he can never arise.

Do not pursue with the terrible scourge him who deserves a slight whip. [Lat., Ne scutica dignum horribili sectere flagello.]

That man scorches with his brightness, who overpowers inferior capacities, yet he shall be revered when dead.

We are free to yield to truth.

Knowledge is a mimic creation.

Drive Nature forth by force, she'll turn and rout The false refinements that would keep her out.

Seize the day, put no trust in the morrow!

Music is an incitement to love.

Often you must turn your stylus to erase, if you hope to write anything worth a second reading.

Of what use is a fortune to me, if I cannot use it? [Lat., Quo mihi fortunam, si non conceditur uti?]

I do not dislike the French from the vulgar antipathy between neighboring nations, but for their insolent and unfounded air of superiority.

Life gives nothing to man without labor.

I look upon paradoxes as the impotent efforts of men who, not having capacity to draw attention and celebrity from good sense, fly to eccentricities to make themselves noted.

He was persuaded he could know no happiness but in the society of one with whom he could for ever indulge the melancholy that had taken possession of his soul.

I am too sick to be out of bed, too crazy to sleep, and am surrounded by horrors.

What it is forbidden to be put right becomes lighter by acceptance.

Acquittal of the guilty damns the judge.

You will live wisely if you are happy in your lot.

We must be purposely kind and generous or we miss the best part of life's existence.

Consider carefully before you say a hard word to a man, but never let a chance to say a good one go by. Praise judiciously bestowed is money invested.

There is one excuse for every mistake a man can make, but only one. When a fellow makes the same mistake twice he's got to throw up both hands and own up to carelessness or cussedness.

We are to work after no set fashion of high endeavor; but to walk with Jesus, performing, as it were, a ministry on foot, that we may stop at the humblest matter, and prove our fidelity there.

Two clergymen disputing whether ordination would be valid without the imposition of both hands, the more formal one said, "Do you think the Holy Dove could fly down with only one wing?

I live and reign since I have abandoned those pleasures which you by your praises extol to the skies. [Lat., Vivo et regno, simul ista reliqui Quae vos ad coelum effertis rumore secundo.]

Caelum non animum mutant qui trans mare currunt. (They change their sky, not their soul, who rush across the sea.)

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By wine eating cares are put to flight. [Lat., Vino diffugiunt mordaces curae.]

Every man's life is a plan of God.

"Painters and poets," you say, "have always had an equal license in bold invention." We know; we claim the liberty for ourselves and in turn we give it to others.

That best of blessings, a contented mind.

Whatever you advise, be as brief as possible.

We are dust and shadow. [Lat., Pulvis et umbra sumus.]

Silver is less valuable than gold, gold than virtue. [Lat., Vilius argentum est auro virtutibus aurum.]

Those unacquainted with the world take pleasure in intimacy with great men; those who are wiser fear the consequences.

Hidden knowledge differs little from ignorance.

Do you count your birthdays with gratitude?

I sit with my toes in a brook, And if any one axes forwhy? I hits them a rap with my crook, For 'tis sentiment does it, says I.

I court not the votes of the fickle mob.

In going abroad we change the climate not our dispositions.

Education is only second to nature.

God can change the lowest to the highest, abase the proud, and raise the humble.

How well Shakespeare knew how to improve and exalt little circumstances, when he borrowed them from circumstantial or vulgar historians.

Blind self-love, vanity, lifting aloft her empty head, and indiscretion, prodigal of secrets more transparent than glass, follow close behind.

Printer's ink is the great apostle of progress, whose pulpit is the press.

In trying to be concise I become obscure.

Those who seek for much are left in want of much. Happy is he to whom God has given, with sparing hand, as much as is enough.

The best philosophy is to do one's duties, take the world as it comes, submit respectfully to one's lot; bless the goodness that has given us so much happiness with it.

Nothing is swifter than rumor.