Horace Quotes

The mind that is cheerful in its present state, will be averse to all solicitude as to the future, and will meet the bitter occurrences of life with a placid smile.

You traverse the world in search of happiness which is within the reach of every man. A contented mind confers it on all.

Unless the vessel be pure, everything which is poured into it will turn sour.

What can be found equal to modesty, uncorrupt faith, the sister of justice, and undisguised truth?

Fear is an acid which is pumped into one's atmosphere. It causes mental, moral and spiritual asphyxiation, and sometimes death; death to energy and all growth.

Without love and laughter there is no joy; live amid love and laughter.

Doing nothing for others is the undoing of ourselves.

There is no greater difference between men than between grateful and ungrateful people.

Fidelity is the sister of justice.

That destructive siren, sloth, is ever to be avoided.

Habit is a cable; we weave a thread of it each day, and at last we cannot break it.

By deafness one gains in one respect more than one loses; one misses more nonsense than sense.

Joyful let the soul be in the present, let it disdain to trouble about what is beyond and temper bitterness with a laugh. Nothing is blessed forever.

There is no such thing as perfect happiness.

There is a fault common to all singers. When they're among friends and are asked to sing they don't want to, and when they're not asked to sing they never stop.

Somewhere under the stars God has a job for you to do and nobody else can do it.

I have often said, and oftener think, that this world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel - a solution of why Democritus laughed and Heraclitus wept.

Worry affects the circulation, the heart, the glands, the whole nervous system. I have never known a man who died from over work, but many who died from doubt.

Every fellow is really two men -- what he is and what he might be; and you're never absolutely sure which you're going to bury till he's dead.

Boy, I loathe Persian luxury.

Take as a gift whatever the day brings forth.

Ignorance breeds monsters to fill up the vacancies of the soul that are unoccupied by the verities of knowledge.

Education alone can conduct us to that enjoyment which is, at once, best in quality and infinite in quantity.

Undeservedly you will atone for the sins of your fathers.

Remember to keep the mind calm in difficult moments.

Mediocrity is not allowed to poets, either by the gods or men.

Observation - activity of both eyes and ears.

The miser acquires, yet fears to use his gains.

Now drown care in wine. [Lat., Nunc vino pellite curas.]

An accomplished man to his fingertips.

Live as brave men and face adversity with stout hearts.

Let hopes and sorrows, fears and angers be, And think each day that dawns the last you'll see; For so the hour that greets you unforeseen Will bring with it enjoyment twice as keen.

The same night awaits us all.

I was what you are, you will be what I am.

Stupidity has no friends, and wants none.

In peace, a wise man makes preparations for war.

Blend a little folly with thy worldly plans: it is delightful to give loose on a proper occasion.

The more a man denies himself, the more shall he obtain from God.

He who is always in a hurry to be wealthy and immersed in the study of augmenting his fortune has lost the arms of reason and deserted the post of virtue.

Who has self-confidence will lead the rest.

No man ever reached to excellence in any one art or profession without having passed through the slow and painful process of study and preparation.

As a rule, adversity reveals genius and prosperity hides it

I know that I have had friends who would never have vexed or betrayed me, if they had walked on all fours.

To carry timber into the wood. [Lat., In silvam ligna ferre.]

The power of daring anything their fancy suggest, as always been conceded to the painter and the poet.

Carpe diem, quam minime credula postero. Enjoy the present day, trusting very little to the morrow.

One musts avoid that wicked temptress, Laziness.

Strength, wanting judgment and policy to rule, overturneth itself.

Faults are soon copied.

Justice is rather the activity of truth, than a virtue in itself. Truth tells us what is due to others, and justice renders that due. Injustice is acting a lie.