Martial Quotes

Life is not merely to be alive, but to be well.

Why do strong arms fatigue themselves with frivolous dumbbells? To dig a vineyard is worthier exercise for men.

The spirit of the individual is determined by his dominating thought habits.

There is nothing more revolting than an old busybody.

Rarity gives a charm; so early fruits and winter roses are the most prized; and coyness sets off an extravagant mistress, while the door always open tempts no suitor.

I would not miss your face, your neck, your hands, your limbs, your bosom and certain other of your charms. Indeed, not to become boring by naming them all, I could do without you, Chloe, altogether.

Each day provides its own gifts.

Tomorrow's life is too late. Live today.

Here's a rule of life: You don't get to pick what bad things happen to you

There is no living with thee, nor without thee.

Remember, cobbler, to keep to your leather. [Lat., Memento, in pellicula, cerdo, tenere tuo.]

Conceal a flaw, and the world will imagine the worst.

He who writes distichs, wishes, I suppose, to please by brevity. But, tell me, of what avail is their brevity, when there is a whose book full of them?

There is no glory in outstripping donkeys.

Wine and women bring misery.

The African lions rush to attack bulls; they do not attack butterflies. [Lat., In tauros Libyci ruunt leones; Non sunt papilionibus molesti.]

You're obstinate, pliant, merry, morose, all at once. For me there's no living with you, or without you.

He who weighs his burdens, can bear them.

Be merry if you are wise.

The bee is enclosed, and shines preserved in amber, so that it seems enshrined in its own nectar.

It is easy in adversity to despise death; he has real fortitude who dares to live and be wretched.

Givers of great dinners know few enemies.

Believing hear, what you deserve to hear: Your birthday as my own to me is dear... But yours gives most; for mine did only lend Me to the world; yours gave to me a friend.

He writes nothing whose writings are not read.

A man who lives everywhere lives nowhere.

Virtue extends our days: he lives two lives who relives his past with pleasure.

It is feeling and force of imagination that make us eloquent.

If fame is to come only after death, I am in no hurry for it.

A good man enlarges the term of his own existence.

He who prefers to give Linus the half of what he wishes to borrow, rather than to lend him the whole, prefers to lose only the half.

She grieves sincerely who grieves unseen.

My poems are naughty, but my life is pure.

If your slave commits a fault, do not smash his teeth with your fists; give him some of the (hard) biscuit which famous Rhodes has sent you.

Spare the person but lash the vice.

Whoever makes great presents, expects great presents in return.

Can the fish love the fisherman? [Lat., Piscatorem piscis amare potest?]

I believe that man to be wretched whom none can please.

Whoever is not too wise is wise. [Lat., Quisquis plus justo non sapit, ille sapit.]

Live thy life as it were spoil and pluck the joys that fly.

If fame comes after death, I'm in no hurry for it. [Lat., Si post fata venit gloria non propero.]

Fortune gives too much to many, enough to none.

The face that cannot smile is never fair.

In adversity it is easy to despise life; he is truly brave who can endure a writeched life

When your crowd of attendants so loudly applaud you, Pomponius, it is not you, but your banquet, that is eloquent.

From no place can you exclude the fates. [Lat., Nullo fata loco possis excludere.]

The flaw which is hidden is deemed greater than it is.

It is not he who forms idols in gold or marble that makes them gods, but he who kneels before them.

The swan murmurs sweet strains with a flattering tongue, itself the singer of its own dirge.

In adversity it is easy to despise life; he is truly brave who can endure a wretched life. [Lat., Rebus in angustis facile est contemnere vitam; Fortiter ille facit qui miser esse potest.]

There is nothing more contemptible than a bald man who pretends to have hair.