Works
Famous Horace Quotes
“Force without wisdom falls of its own weight.”
Book III, ode iv, line 65
Odes (c. 23 BC and 13 BC)
“For nature forms our spirits to receive
Each bent that outward circumstance can give:
She kindles pleasure, bids resentment glow,
Or bows the soul to earth in hopeless woe.”
Format enim Natura prius nos intus ad omnem
Fortunarum habitum, juvat, aut impellit ad iram,
Aut ad humum moerore gravi deducit, et angit.
Source: Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC), Line 108 (tr. Conington)
“At times the world sees straight, but many times the world goes astray.”
Interdum volgus rectum videt, est ubi peccat.
Book II, epistle i, line 63
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
Horace Quotes about life
“Then take, good sir, your pleasure while you may;
With life so short 'twere wrong to lose a day.”
Dum licet, in rebus jucundis vive beatus;
Vive memor quam sis aevi brevis.
Book II, satire viii, line 96 (trans. Conington)
Satires (c. 35 BC and 30 BC)
“O Fortune, cruellest of heavenly powers,
Why make such game of this poor life of ours?”
Heu, Fortuna, quis est crudelior in nos
Te deus? Ut semper gaudes illudere rebus Humanis!
Book II, satire viii, line 61 (trans. Conington)
Satires (c. 35 BC and 30 BC)
“Life grants nothing to us mortals without hard work.”
Nil sine magno
vita labore dedit mortalibus.
Book I, satire ix, line 59
Satires (c. 35 BC and 30 BC)
“If my character is flawed by a few minor faults, but is otherwise decent and moral, if you can point out only a few scattered blemishes on an otherwise immaculate surface, if no one can accuse me of greed, or of prurience, or of profligacy, if I live a virtuous life, free of defilement (pardon, for a moment, my self-praise), and if I am to my friends a good friend, my father deserves all the credit… As it is now, he deserves from me unstinting gratitude and praise. I could never be ashamed of such a father, nor do I feel any need, as many people do, to apologize for being a freedman's son.”
Atqui si vitiis mediocribus ac mea paucis
mendosa est natura, alioqui recta, velut si
egregio inspersos reprehendas corpore naevos,
si neque avaritiam neque sordes nec mala lustra
obiciet vere quisquam mihi, purus et insons,
ut me collaudem, si et vivo carus amicis...
at hoc nunc
laus illi debetur et a me gratia maior.
nil me paeniteat sanum patris huius, eoque
non, ut magna dolo factum negat esse suo pars,
quod non ingenuos habeat clarosque parentis,
sic me defendam.
Book I, satire vi, lines 65–92
Satires (c. 35 BC and 30 BC)
“He will through life be master of himself and a happy man who from day to day can have said, "I have lived: tomorrow the Father may fill the sky with black clouds or with cloudless sunshine."”
Ille potens sui
laetusque deget, cui licet in diem
dixisse "vixi: cras vel atra
nube polum pater occupato
vel sole puro."
Book III, ode xxix, line 41
John Dryden's paraphrase:
Happy the man, and happy he alone,
He, who can call to day his own:
He who, secure within, can say,
To-morrow do thy worst, for I have lived to-day.
Odes (c. 23 BC and 13 BC)
“Art is long, life is short.”
Ars longa, vita brevis.
Seneca's (De Brevitate Vitae, 1.1) Latin translation of the Greek by Hippocrates.
Misattributed
Horace Quotes about time
“For why do you hasten to remove things that hurt your eyes, but if anything gnaws your mind, defer the time of curing it from year to year?”
Nam cur
quae laedunt oculum festinas demere; si quid
est animum, differs curandi tempus in annum?
Book I, epistle ii, lines 37–39; translation by C. Smart
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“Now is the time for drinking, now the time to dance footloose upon the earth.”
Nunc est bibendum, nunc pede libero
pulsanda tellus.
Nunc est bibendum, nunc pede libero
pulsanda tellus.
Book I, ode xxxvii, line 1
Odes (c. 23 BC and 13 BC)
“He wins every hand who mingles profit with pleasure, by delighting and instructing the reader at the same time.”
Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci,
lectorem delectando pariterque monendo.
Source: Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC), Line 343
“As we speak cruel time is fleeing. Seize the day, believing as little as possible in the morrow.”
Dum loquimur, fugerit invida
Aetas: carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero.
Book I, ode xi, line 7
John Conington's translation:
:In the moment of our talking, envious time has ebbed away,
Seize the present, trust tomorrow e'en as little as you may.
Odes (c. 23 BC and 13 BC)
Horace: Trending quotes
“I have made a monument more lasting than bronze.”
Exegi monumentum aere perennius
Book III, ode xxx, line 1
Odes (c. 23 BC and 13 BC)
“A host is like a general: calamities often reveal his genius.”
Sed convivatoris uti ducis ingenium res
Adversae nudare solent, celare secundae.
Sed convivatoris uti ducis ingenium res<br>Adversae nudare solent, celare secundae. <br class="br">Book II, satire viii, lines 73–74 http://books.google.com/books?id=hlgNAAAAYAAJ&q=%22Sed+convivatoris+uti+ducis+ingenium+res+Adversae+nudare+solent+celare+secundae%22&pg=PA360#v=onepage <br class="br">Satires (c. 35 BC and 30 BC)
“Mere grace is not enough: a play should thrill
The hearer's soul, and move it at its will.”
Non satis est pulchra esse poemata; dulcia sunto
Et, quocumque uolent, animum auditoris agunto.
Source: Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC), Line 99 (tr. John Conington)
Horace Quotes
“We are but numbers, born to consume resources.”
Nos numerus sumus et fruges consumere nati.
Book I, epistle ii, line 27
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“I am not bound over to swear allegiance to any master; where the storm drives me I turn in for shelter.”
Nullius addictus iurare in verba magistri,
quo me cumque rapit tempestas, deferor hospes.
Book I, epistle i, line 14
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“What is to prevent one from telling truth as he laughs, even as teachers sometimes give cookies to children to coax them into learning their A B C?”
Quamquam ridentem dicere verum quid vetat? ut pueris olim dant crustula blandi doctores, elementa velint ut discere prima.
Book I, satire i, line 24
Satires (c. 35 BC and 30 BC)
“Conquered Greece took captive her savage conqueror and brought her arts into rustic Latium.”
Graecia capta ferum victorem cepit et artes intulit agresti Latio.
Book II, epistle i, lines 156–157
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“Nam tua res agitur, paries cum proximus ardet.”
It is your concern when your neighbor's wall is on fire.
Book I, epistle xviii, line 84
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“He is not poor who has enough of things to use. If it is well with your belly, chest and feet, the wealth of kings can give you nothing more.”
Pauper enim non est, cui rerum suppetit usus.
si ventri bene, si lateri est pedibusque tuis, nil
divitiae poterunt regales addere maius.
Book I, epistle xii, line 4
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“Anger is a momentary madness so control your passion or it will control you.”
Ira furor brevis est: animum rege: qui nisi paret
imperat.
Book I, epistle ii, line 62
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“Once a word has been allowed to escape, it cannot be recalled.”
Semel emissum volat irrevocabile verbum.
Book I, epistle xviii, line 71
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“When you wish to instruct, be brief; that men’s minds may take in quickly what you say, learn its lesson, and retain it faithfully. Every word that is unnecessary only pours over the side of a brimming mind.”
Quidquid praecipies, esto brevis, ut cito dicta
percipiant animi dociles teneantque fideles:
omne supervacuum pleno de pectore manat.
Source: Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC), Lines 335–337; Edward Charles Wickham translation
“As money grows, care follows it and the hunger for more.”
Crescentem sequitur cura pecuniam,
Maiorumque fames.
Odes (c. 23 BC and 13 BC)
“The Muse gave the Greeks their native character, and allowed them to speak in noble tones, they who desired nothing but praise.”
Grais ingenium, Grais dedit ore rotundo
Musa loqui, præter laudem nullius avaris. . .
Grais ingenium, Grais dedit ore rotundo
Musa loqui, præter laudem nullius avaris. . .
Line 323
Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC)
“To flee vice is the beginning of virtue, and to have got rid of folly is the beginning of wisdom.”
Virtus est vitium fugere et sapientia prima
stultitia caruisse.
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“Some faults may claim forgiveness.”
Sunt delicta tamen quibus ignovisse velimus.
Source: Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC), Line 347 (tr. Conington)
“None knows the reason why this curse
Was sent on him, this love of making verse.”
Nec satis apparet, cur versus factitet.
Source: Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC), Line 470 (tr. Conington)
“Leave all else to the gods.”
Permitte divis cetera.
Book I, ode ix, line 9
Odes (c. 23 BC and 13 BC)
“Let hopes and sorrows, fears and angers be,
And think each day that dawns the last you'll see;
For so the hour that greets you unforeseen
Will bring with it enjoyment twice as keen.”
Inter spem curamque, timores inter et iras,
Omnem crede diem tibi diluxisse supremum:
Grata superveniet quae non sperabitur hora.
Book I, epistle iv, line 12 (translated by John Conington)
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“In adversity, remember to keep an even mind.”
Aequam memento rebus in arduis
servare mentem.
Book II, ode iii, line 1
Odes (c. 23 BC and 13 BC)
“In vain did Nature's wife command
Divide the waters from the land,
If daring ships and men profane,
Invade th' inviolable main.”
Nequiquam deus abscidit
Prudens Oceano dissociabili
Terras, si tamen impiae
Non tangenda rates transiliunt vada.
Book I, ode iii, line 21 (trans. by John Dryden)
Odes (c. 23 BC and 13 BC)
“Death takes the mean man with the proud;
The fatal urn has room for all.”
Aequa lege Necessitas
Sortitur insignes et imos;
Omne capax movet urna nomen.
Book III, ode i, line 14 (trans. John Conington)
Odes (c. 23 BC and 13 BC)
“To have good sense, is the first principle and fountain of writing well.”
Scribendi recte sapere est et principium et fons.
Source: Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC), Line 309
“It is your concern when your neighbor's wall is on fire.”
Nam tua res agitur, paries cum proximus ardet.
Book I, epistle xviii, line 84
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“Ah, Postumus! they fleet away,
Our years, nor piety one hour
Can win from wrinkles and decay,
And Death's indomitable power.”
Eheu fugaces, Postume, Postume,
labuntur anni nec pietas moram
rugis et instanti senectae
adferet indomitaeque morti.
Book II, ode xiv, line 1 (trans. John Conington)
Odes (c. 23 BC and 13 BC)
“It is sweet and honorable to die for one's country.”
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.
Book III, ode ii, line 13
Odes (c. 23 BC and 13 BC)
“We are but dust and shadow.”
Pulvis et umbra sumus.
Book IV, ode vii, line 16
Odes (c. 23 BC and 13 BC)
“If you wish me to weep, you yourself
Must first feel grief.”
Si vis me flere, dolendum est
primum ipsi tibi.
Source: Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC), Line 102
“As for me, when you want a good laugh, you will find me in fine state… fat and sleek, a true hog of Epicurus' herd.”
Me pinguem et nitidum bene curata cute vises,
cum ridere voles Epicuri de grege porcum.
Book I, epistle iv, lines 15–16
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“O fairer daughter of a fair mother!”
O matre pulchra filia pulchrior
Book I, ode xvi, line 1
Odes (c. 23 BC and 13 BC)
“Enjoy the present smiling hour,
And put it out of Fortune's power.”
Quod adest memento
componere aequus.
Book III, ode xxix, line 32 (as translated by John Dryden)
Odes (c. 23 BC and 13 BC)
“The years as they pass plunder us of one thing after another.”
Singula de nobis anni praedantur euntes.
Book II, epistle ii, line 55
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“You may drive out Nature with a pitchfork, yet she still will hurry back.”
Naturam expellas furca, tamen usque recurret.
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“So live, my boys, as brave men; and if fortune is adverse, front its blows with brave hearts.”
Quocirca vivite fortes, fortiaque adversis opponite pectora rebus
Book II, Satire II, Line 135-136 (trans. E. C. Wickham)
Satires (c. 35 BC and 30 BC)
“Mediocrity in poets has never been tolerated by either men, or gods, or booksellers.”
Mediocribus esse poetis Non homines, non di, non concessere columnae.
Lines 372–373 http://books.google.com/books?id=hlgNAAAAYAAJ&q=%22mediocribus+esse+poetis+Non+homines+non+di+non+concessere+columnae%22&pg=PA769#v=onepage <br class="br">Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC)
“In peace, as a wise man, he should make suitable preparation for war.”
in pace, ut sapiens, aptarit idonea bello
Book II, satire ii, line 111
Satires (c. 35 BC and 30 BC)
“To have a great man for an intimate friend seems pleasant to those who have never tried it; those who have, fear it.”
Dulcis inexpertis cultura potentis amici; Expertus metuit.[http://books.google.com/books?id=BGxQAAAAcAAJ&q=%22Dulcis+inexpertis+cultura+potentis+amici+Expertus+metuit%22&pg=PA207#v=onepage]
Book I, epistle xviii, line 86
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“Struggling to be brief I become obscure.”
Brevis esse laboro,
obscurus fio.
Source: Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC), Line 25
“And what he fears he cannot make attractive with his touch he abandons.”
Et quae
Desperat tractata nitescere posse relinquit.
Source: Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC), Line 149 (tr. H. R. Fairclough)
“Think to yourself that every day is your last; the hour to which you do not look forward will come as a welcome surprise.”
Omnem crede diem tibi diluxisse supremum.
grata superveniet, quae non sperabitur hora.
Book I, epistle iv, line 13–14
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“The man who is tenacious of purpose in a rightful cause is not shaken from his firm resolve by the frenzy of his fellow citizens clamoring for what is wrong, or by the tyrant's threatening countenance.”
Iustum et tenacem propositi virum
non civium ardor prava iubentium,
non vultus instantis tyranni
mente quatit solida.
Book III, ode iii, line 1
Odes (c. 23 BC and 13 BC)
“Sky, not spirit, do they change, those who cross the sea.”
Caelum, non animum mutant, qui trans mare currunt.
Book I, epistle xi, line 27
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“What the discordant harmony of circumstances would and could effect.”
Quid velit et possit rerum concordia discors
Book I, epistle xii, line 19
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“Often a purple patch or two is tacked on to a serious work of high promise, to give an effect of colour.”
Inceptis gravibus plerumque et magna professis
purpureus, late qui splendeat, unus et alter
adsuitur pannus.
Inceptis gravibus plerumque et magna professis
purpureus, late qui splendeat, unus et alter
adsuitur pannus.
Source: Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC), Line 14
“I am displeased when sometimes even the worthy Homer nods;”
Indignor quandoque bonus dormitat Homerus;
Whence the familiar expression, Even Homer nods (i.e. No one is perfect: even the wisest make mistakes).
Source: Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC), Line 359
“This to the right, that to the left hand strays,
And all are wrong, but wrong in different ways.”
Ille sinistrorsum, hie dextrorsum abit : unus utrique
Error, sed variis illudit partibus.
Book II, satire iii, line 50 (trans. Conington)
Satires (c. 35 BC and 30 BC)
Book I, satire i, line 48
Satires (c. 35 BC and 30 BC)
“Look round and round the man you recommend,
For yours will be the shame should he offend.”
Qualem commendes, etiam atque etiam aspice, ne mox incutiant aliena tibi peccata pudorem.
Book I, epistle xviii, line 76 (translated by John Conington).
Variant translation: Study carefully the character of the one you recommend, lest his misdeeds bring you shame.
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“He who feared that he would not succeed sat still.”
Sedit qui timuit ne non succederet.
Book I, epistle xvii, line 37
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“For joys fall not to the rich alone, nor has he lived ill, who from birth to death has passed unknown.”
Nam neque divitibus contingunt gaudia solis,
nec vixit male, qui natus moriensque fefellit.
Book I, epistle xvii, line 9
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“I sing for maidens and boys.”
Virginibus puerisque canto.
Book III, ode i, line 4
Odes (c. 23 BC and 13 BC)
“It is difficult to speak of the universal specifically.”
Difficile est proprie communia dicere.
Source: Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC), Line 128
“We rarely find anyone who can say he has lived a happy life, and who, content with his life, can retire from the world like a satisfied guest.”
Inde fit ut raro, qui se vixisse beatum
dicat et exacto contentus tempore vita
cedat uti conviva satur, reperire queamus.
Satires (c. 35 BC and 30 BC)
