Sallust Quotes

Harmony makes small things grow; lack of it makes great things decay.

Small communities grow great through harmony, great ones fall to pieces through discord.

Few men desire liberty; most men wish only for a just master.

The firmest friendship is based on an identity of likes and dislikes.

Greedy for the property of others, extravagant with his own

Everything rises but to fall, and increases but to decay.

They envy the distinction I have won; let them therefore, envy my toils, my honesty, and the methods by which I gained it.

All those who offer an opinion on any doubtful point should first clear their minds of every sentiment of dislike, friendship, anger or pity.

In my opinion it is less shameful for a king to be overcome by force of arms than by bribery.

Do as much as possible, and talk of yourself as little as possible

A small state increases by concord; the greatest falls gradually to ruin by dissension.

Neither soldiers nor money can defend a king but only friends won by good deeds, merit, and honesty.

The renown which riches or beauty confer is fleeting and frail mental excellence is a splendid and lasting possession.

Necessity makes even the timid brave.

One can ever assume to be what he is not, and to conceal what he is.

Kings are more prone to mistrust the good than the bad; and they are always afraid of the virtues of others.

It is better to use fair means and fail, than foul and conquer.

Each man the architect of his own fate.

A good man would prefer to be defeated than to defeat injustice by evil means.

We employ the mind to rule, the body to serve.

Every bad precedent originated as a justifiable measure.

Ambition breaks the ties of blood, and forgets the obligations of gratitude.

It is always easy to begin a war, but very difficult to stop one.

Those most moved to tears by every word of a preacher are generally weak and a rascal when the feelings evaporate.

In battle it is the cowards who run the most risk; bravery is a rampart of defense.

To like and dislike the same things that is indeed true friendship.

No mortal man has ever served at the same time his passions and his best interests.

Advise well before you begin, and when you have maturely considered, then act with promptitude.

It is a law of human nature that in victory even the coward may boast of his prowess, while defeat injures the reputation even of the brave.

Fame is the shadow of passion standing in the light

Not by vows nor by womanish prayers is the help of the gods obtained; success comes through vigilance, energy, wise counsel.

Distinguished ancestors shed a powerful light on their descendants, and forbid the concealment either of their merits or of their demerits.

By union the smallest states thrive. By discord the greatest are destroyed.

He that will be angry for anything will be angry for nothing.

There were few who preferred honor to money.

The fame which is based on wealth or beauty is a frail and fleeting thing; but virtue shines for ages with undiminished lustre.

No grief reaches the dead.

The poorest of men are the most useful to those seeking power.

Poor Britons, there is some good in them after all - they produced an oyster.

To desire the same things and to reject the same things, constitutes true friendship. [Lat., Idem velle et idem nolle ea demum firma amicitia est.]

All who consult on doubtful matters, should be void of hatred, friendship, anger, and pity.

As the blessings of health and fortune have a beginning, so they must also find an end. Everything rises but to fall, and increases but to decay.

All men who would surpass the other animals should do their best not to pass through life silently like the beasts whom nature made prone, obedient to their bellies.

The very life which we enjoy is short. [Lat., Vita ipsa qua fruimur brevis est.]

Deliberate before you begin; but, having carefully done so, execute with vigour.

The soul is the captain and ruler of the life of morals.

Fortune rules in all things, and advances and depresses things more out of her own will than right and justice.

The higher your station, the less your liberty.

The fame that goes with wealth and beauty is fleeting and fragile; intellectual superiority is a possession glorious and eternal.

For harmony makes small states great, while discord undermines the mightiest empires.