“Vain hopes are often like the dreams of those who wake.”
Quintilian (35–96) ancient Roman rhetor
Perhaps confusion of Book VI, Chapter II, 30
Similar to Matthew Prior: "For hope is but the dream of those that wake", Solomon on the Vanity of the World, book iii, line 102.
Misattributed
“So much easier is it to do many things than to do one thing for a long time continuously.”
Adeo facilius est multa facere quam diu.
Quintilian (35–96) ancient Roman rhetor
Book I, Chapter XII, 7; translation by H. E. Butler
De Institutione Oratoria (c. 95 AD)
“Accordingly, the first essential is that those feelings should prevail with us that we wish to prevail with the judge, and that we should be moved ourselves before we attempt to move others.”
Primum est igitur ut apud nos valeant ea quae valere apud iudicem volumus, adficiamurque antequam adficere conemur.
Quintilian (35–96) ancient Roman rhetor
Book VI, Chapter II, 28; translation by H. E. Butler
De Institutione Oratoria (c. 95 AD)
“But I fancy that I hear some (for there will never be wanting men who would rather be eloquent than good) saying "Why then is there so much art devoted to eloquence? Why have you given precepts on rhetorical coloring and the defense of difficult causes, and some even on the acknowledgment of guilt, unless, at times, the force and ingenuity of eloquence overpowers even truth itself? For a good man advocates only good causes, and truth itself supports them sufficiently without the aid of learning."”
Videor mihi audire quosdam (neque enim deerunt umquam qui diserti esse quam boni malint) illa dicentis: "Quid ergo tantum est artis in eloquentia? cur tu de coloribus et difficilium causarum defensione, nonnihil etiam de confessione locutus es, nisi aliquando vis ac facultas dicendi expugnat ipsam veritatem? Bonus enim vir non agit nisi bonas causas, eas porro etiam sine doctrina satis per se tuetur veritas ipsa."
Quintilian (35–96) ancient Roman rhetor
Book XII, Chapter I, 33; translation by Rev. John Selby Watson
De Institutione Oratoria (c. 95 AD)
“We should not speak so that it is possible for the audience to understand us, but so that it is impossible for them to misunderstand us.”
Quare non ut intellegere possit sed ne omnino possit non intellegere curandum.
Quintilian (35–96) ancient Roman rhetor
Book VIII, Chapter II, 24
De Institutione Oratoria (c. 95 AD)
“For it is feeling and force of imagination that makes us eloquent.”
Pectus est enim quod disertos facit, et vis mentis.
Quintilian (35–96) ancient Roman rhetor
Book X, Chapter VII, 15
De Institutione Oratoria (c. 95 AD)
“I don't know if God exists, but it would be better for His reputation if He didn't. ”
Jules Renard (1864–1910) French author (1864-1910)
