Horace Quotes

A jest often decides matters of importance more effectively and happily than seriousness.

In a long work sleep may be naturally expected.

If you are only an underling, don't dress too fine.

Even the worthy Homer sometimes nods.

I abhor the profane rabble and keep them at a distance.

Naturam expellas furca, tamen usque revenit. You can drive nature out with a pitchfork, she will nevertheless come back.

It is but a poor establishment where there are not many superfluous things which the owner knows not of, and which go to the thieves.

In vain will you fly from one vice if in your wilfulness you embrace another.

In truth it is best to learn wisdom, and abandoning all nonsense, to leave it to boys to enjoy their season of play and mirth.

In the same [hospitable] manner that a Calabrian would press you to eat his pears.

His anger is easily excited and appeased, and he changes from hour to hour.

Heir follows heir, as wave succeeds to wave.

He will often have to scratch his head, and bite his nails to the quick. [To succeed he will have to puzzle his brains and work hard.]

And I endeavour to subdue circumstances to myself, and not myself to circumstances. [Lat., Et mihi res, non me rebus, subjungere conor.]

Thou oughtest to know, since thou livest near the gods. [Lat., Scire, deos quoniam propius contingis, oportet.]

One night is awaiting us all, and the way of death must be trodden once. [Lat., Omnes una manet nox, Et calcanda semel via leti.]

Faults are committed within the walls of Troy and also without. [There is fault on both sides.]

Brighter than Parian marble.

Having no business of his own to attend to, he busies himself with the affairs of others.

He who sings the praises of his boyhood's days.

He who preserves a man's life against his will does the same thing as if he slew him.

He who has enough for his wants should desire nothing more.

He wears himself out by his labours, and grows old through his love of possessing wealth.

He tells old wives' tales much to the point.

He is praised by some, blamed by others.

He has hay upon his horn. [He is a mischievous person.]

He has carried every point, who has combined that which is useful with that which is agreeable.

He will be beloved when he is no more.

Shun an inquisitive man, he is invariably a tell-tale.

Lightning strikes the tops of the mountains.

At Rome I love Tibur; then, like a weathercock, at Tibur Rome.

A man polished to the nail. [Lat., Ad unguem factus home.]

Seek not to inquire what the morrow will bring with it.

Let him who has once perceived how much that, which has been discarded, excels that which he has longed for, return at once, and seek again that which he despised.

In labouring to be brief, I become obscure.

When evil times prevail, take care to preserve the serenity of your hear.

The man is either crazy or he is a poet.

Let your mind, happily contented with the present, care not what the morrow will bring with it.

Betray not a secret even though racked by wine or wrath.

My age, my inclinations, are no longer what they were.

Fierce eagles breed not the tender dove.

Enjoy the present day, as distrusting that which is to follow.

There is need of brevity, that the thought may run on.

Decus et pretium recte petit experiens vir. The man who makes the attempt justly aims at honour and reward.

To pile Pelion upon Olympus. [Lat., Pelion imposuisse Olympo.]

Little folks become their little fate.

That corner of the world smiles for me more than anywhere else.

I prayed only for a small piece of land, a garden, an ever-flowing spring, and bit of woods.

Better wilt thou live...by neither always pressing out to sea nor too closely hugging the dangerous shore in cautious fear of storms.

The work you are treating is one full of dangerous hazard, and you are treading over fires lurking beneath treacherous ashes.