Horace Quotes

To know all things is not permitted.

Receive, dear friend, the truths I teach, So shalt thou live beyond the reach Of adverse Fortune's pow'r; Not always tempt the distant deep, Nor always timorously creep Along the treach'rous shore.

Nothing is achieved without toil.

Mark what and how great blessings flow from a frugal diet; in the first place, thou enjoyest good health.

Enjoy the present day, trust the least possible to the future.

Neither men, nor gods, nor booksellers' shelves permit ordinary poets to exist. [Lat., Mediocribus esse poetis Non homines, non di, non concessere columnae.]

Drive Nature out with a pitchfork, yet she hurries back, And will burst through your foolish contempt, triumphant.

In avoiding one evil we fall into another, if we use not discretion.

The hour of happiness which comes unexpectedly is the happiest.

Joy, grief, desire or fear, whate'er the name The passion bears, its influence is the same; Where things exceed your hope or fall below, You stare, look blank, grow numb from top to toe.

The Sun, the stars and the seasons as they pass, some can gaze upon these with no strain of fear.

There is a mean in all things; even virtue itself has stated limits; which not being strictly observed, it ceases to be virtue.

Drop the question of what tomorrow may bring, and count as profit every day that Fate allows you.

If you wish me to weep, you yourself must first feel grief.

Every man should measure himself by his own standard. [Lat., Metiri se quemque suo modulo ac pede verum est.]

What is wealth to me if I cannot enjoy it?

I beseech you to treasure up in your hearts these my parting words: Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity.

You are judged of by what you possess.

Mingle a little folly with your wisdom; a little nonsense, now and then, is pleasant.

O citizens, first acquire wealth; you can practice virtue afterward.

A man of refined taste and judgment.

Poets are never allowed to be mediocre by the gods, by men or by publishers.

He can afford to be a fool.

A hungry stomach rarely despises common food.

The fellow is either a madman or a poet.

Change generally pleases the rich. [Lat., Plerumque gratae divitibus vices.]

What does it avail you, if of many thorns only one be removed.

All things considered, nothing is beautiful.

Amiability shines by its own light.

Who guides below, and rules above, The great disposer, and the mighty king; Than He none greater, next Him none, That can be, is, or was.

Force without judgement falls on its own weight.

All singers have this fault: if asked to sing among friends they are never so inclined; if unasked, they never leave off.

Leave off asking what tomorrow will bring, and whatever days fortune will give, count them as profit.

With you I should love to live, with you be ready to die.

Mighty to inspire new hopes, and able to drown the bitterness of cares.

No one is born without vices, and he is the best man who is encumbered with the least.

Nothing is so difficult but that man will accomplish it.

It was a wine jar when the molding began: as the wheel runs round why does it turn out a water pitcher?

As many men as there are existing, so many are their different pursuits.

The jackdaw, stript of her stolen colours, provokes our laughter.

The covetous man is ever in want.

For, once begun, Your task is easy; half the work is done.

In giving advice I advise you, be short.

Pale death with an impartial foot knocks at the hovels of the poor and the palaces of king.

Let us both small and great push forward in this work, in this pursuit, if to our country, if to ourselves we would live dear.

The gods have given you wealth and the means of enjoying it.

Seize today and put as little trust as you can in tomorrow.

Dull winter will re-appear.

Mountains will go into labour, and a silly little mouse will be born.

Nor does Apollo keep his bow continually drawn. [Lat., Neque semper arcum Tendit Apollo.]