Quotes from Ancient Times

Publilius Syrus 1st Century BC, Roman Writer

An angry man is again angry with himself when he returns to reason.

We are born princes and the civilizing process makes us frogs.

To confess a fault freely is the next thing to being innocent of it.

That should be considered long which can be decided but once.

Nothing can be done quickly and prudently at the same time.

Life itself is short, but lasts longer than misfortunes.

From the errors of others a wise man corrects his own.

Pain of mind is worse than pain of body.

The pain of the mind is worse than the pain of the body.

Necessity knows no law except to conquer.

Opportunity is lost by deliberation.

The next day is never so good as the day before.

Patience is a remedy for every sorrow.

It is a bad plan that admits of no modification.

No one knows what he can do till he tries.

A cock has great influence on his own dunghill.

All delay is helpful, but it does produce wisdom.

Prosperity makes friends, adversity tries them.

There are some remedies worse than the disease.

You cannot put the same shoe on every foot.

Audacity augments courage; hesitation, fear.

I often regret that I have spoken; never that I have been silent.

Let a fool hold his tongue and he will pass for a sage.

Society in shipwreck is comfort to all.

Speech is the mirror of the soul; as a man speaks, so he is.

A man's own character is the arbiter of his fortune.

The timid man calls himself cautious, the sordid man thrifty.

Everything is worth what its purchaser will pay for it.

The most delightful pleasures cloy without variety.

He is most free from danger, who, even when safe, is on his guard.

At daybreak, when loath to rise, have this thought in thy mind: I am rising for a man's work.

The wise man avoids evil by anticipating it.

The remedy for wrongs is to forget them.

There are some remedies worse than the disease.

An angry father is most cruel towards himself.

No one knows what he can do until he tries.

We are born princes and the civilizing process makes us frogs.

Learn to see in another's calamity the ills which you should avoid.

Take care that no one hates you justly.

Powerful indeed is the empire of habit.

One is not exposed to danger who, even when in safety is always on their guard.

The eyes are not responsible when the mind does the seeing.

It is a fraud to borrow what we are unable to pay.

Familiarity breeds contempt.

An angry father is most cruel toward himself.

Valor grows by daring, fear by holding back.

Reprove your friends in secret, praise them openly.

Treat your friend as if he might become an enemy.

We die as often as we lose a friend.

Take care that no one hates you justly.

There is no medicine to cure hatred. 

He who has lost honor can lose nothing more.

No one ever lost his honor, except he who had it not.

Better to be ignorant of a matter than half know it.

If you would live innocently, seek solitude.

It is not every question that deserves an answer.

A hasty judgment is a first step to recantation.

He who spares the bad injures the good.

They do injury to the good who spares the bad.

The judge is found guilty when a criminal is acquitted.

Anyone can steer the ship when the sea is calm.

Pain forces even the innocent to lie.

Some remedies are worse than the disease.

Admonish your friends privately, but praise them openly.

The eyes are not responsible when the mind does the seeing.

Do not despise the bottom rungs in the ascent to greatness.

Count not him among your friends who will retail your privacies to the world.

The person who receives the most favors is the one who knows how to return them.

No one reaches a high position without daring.

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