Plautus Quotes

If you do anything well, gratitude is lighter than a feather; if you give offense in anything, people's wrath is as heavy as lead.

There are occasions when it is undoubtedly better to incur loss than to make gain.

Unexpected results are the rule rather than the exception.

Do you never look at yourself when you abuse another person?

Fortitude is a great help in distress.

In everything the middle road is best.

He gains wisdom in a happy way, who gains it by another's experience. [Lat., Feliciter sapit qui alieno periculo sapit.]

Courage easily finds its own eloquence.

No man will be respected by others who is despised by his own relatives.

All men love themselves.

A mouse does not rely on just one hole.

The stronger always succeeds.

To love is human, it is also human to forgive.

It is the nature of the unfortunate to be spiteful, and to envy those who are well to do.

Flame is very near to smoke.

I count him lost, who is lost to shame.

There are games in which it is better to lose than win.

A woman without paint is like food without salt.

No blessing lasts forever.

Nothing is more annoying than a tardy friend. [Lat., Tardo amico nihil est quidquam iniquius.]

To an honest man, it is an honor to have remembered his duty.

He who dies for virtue does not perish.

The man who masters his own soul will forever be called conqueror of conquerors.

A woman finds it much easier to do ill than well. [Lat., Mulieri nimio male facere melius est onus, quam bene.]

Consider the little mouse, how sagacious an animal it is which never entrusts its life to one hole only.

We can more easily endure that which shames than that which vexes us.

For nobody is curious, who isn't malevolent.

In everything the middle course is the best; everything in excess brings trouble.

This is the great fault of wine; it first trips up the feet: it is a cunning wrestler.

Your tittle-tattlers, and those who listen to slander, by my good will should all be hanged - the former by their tongues, the latter by the ears.

A good disposition I far prefer to gold; for gold is the gift of fortune; goodness of disposition is the gift of nature. I prefer much rather to be called good than fortunate.

Your wealth is where your friends are

How often the highest talent lurks in obscurity.

He who seeks for gain, must be at some expense.

Confidence begets confidence. Courage, an independent spark from heaven's bright throne, By which the soul stands raised, triumphant, high, alone. Courage in danger is half the battle.

For enemies carry about slander not in the form in which it took its rise . The scandal of men is everlasting; even then does it survive when you would suppose it to be dead.

The man who would be fully employed should procure a ship or a woman, for no two things produce more trouble.

It is wretched business to be digging a well just as thirst is mastering you.

Arrogance is the outgrowth of prosperity.

Bad conduct soils the finest ornament more than filth.

He whom the gods love dies young, whilst he is full of health, perception, and judgment. [Lat., Quem dii diligunt, Adolescens moritur, dum valet, sentit, sapit.]

It is a bitter disappointment when you have sown benefits, to reap injuries.

To a well deserving person God will show favor. To an ill deserving person He will simply be just.

What is thine is mine, and all mine is thine. [Lat., Quod tuum'st meum'st; omne meum est autem tuum.]

Feast to-day makes fast to-morrow. Lat.

I have lost my oil and my labor. (Labored in vain.) [Lat., Oleum et operam perdidi.]

Modesty becomes a young man. [Lat., Adolescentem verecundum esse decet.]

It is easy to rule over the good.

If you spend a thing you can not have it. [Lat., Non tibi illud apparere si sumas potest.]

For I know that many good things have happened to many, when least expected; and that many hopes have been disappointed.