Ovid: Trending quotes (page 3)

“No species remains constant: that great renovator of matter
Nature, endlessly fashions new forms from old: there’s nothing
in the whole universe that perishes, believe me; rather
it renews and varies its substance. What we describe as birth
is no more than incipient change from a prior state, while dying
is merely to quit it. Though the parts may be transported
hither and thither, the sum of all matter is constant.”
Nec species sua cuique manet, rerumque novatrix ex aliis alias reparat natura figuras: nec perit in toto quicquam, mihi credite, mundo, sed variat faciemque novat, nascique vocatur incipere esse aliud, quam quod fuit ante, morique desinere illud idem. cum sint huc forsitan illa, haec translata illuc, summa tamen omnia constant.

“Note too that a faithful study of the liberal arts humanizes character and permits it not to be cruel.”
Adde quod ingenuas didicisse fideliter artes emollit mores nec sinit esse feros.

“Pointing to a pile of dust, that had collected, I foolishly begged to have as many anniversaries of my birth, as were represented by the dust. But I forgot to ask that the years should be accompanied by youth.”
Ego pulveris hausti ostendens cumulum, quot haberet corpora pulvis, tot mihi natales contingere vana rogavi; excidit, ut peterem iuvenes quoque protinus annos.

“Rage is for beasts, but shining peace for man.”
Candida pax homines, trux decet ira feras.

“Leave her alone. A fallow field soon shows its worth,
And rain is best absorbed by arid earth.”
Da requiem: requietus ager bene credita reddit

“They come to see; they come that they themselves may be seen.”
Spectatum veniunt, veniunt spectentur ut ipsae.

“Our charms depart all on their own, so pluck the bloom.
For if you don't, it meets a wasted doom.”
Nostra sine auxilio fugiunt bona; carpite florem, Qui, nisi carptus erit, turpiter ipse cadet.

“Jupiter from above laughs at lovers' perjuries.”
Iuppiter ex alto periuria ridet amantum.

“Seize Time; his swift foot can't be held.”
Utendum est aetate: cito pede labitur aetas.

“Either don't try at all or make damned sure you succeed.”
Aut non rem temptes aut perfice.

“Shameful it is to say, yet the common herd, if only we admit the truth, value friendships by their profit.”
Turpe quidem dictu, sed, si modo vera fatemur, vulgus amicitias utilitate probat.

“Chaos, a rough and unordered mass.”
Chaos, rudis indigestaque moles.

“My name shall never be forgotten.”
Nomenque erit indelebile nostrum.

“We take no pleasure in permitted joys.
But what's forbidden is more keenly sought.”
Quod licet ingratum est. Quod non licet acrius urit.

“The gods have their own rules.”
Sunt superis sua iura

“My son, I caution you to keep
The middle way, for if your pinions dip
Too low the waters may impede your flight;
And if they soar too high the sun may scorch them.
Fly midway.”
Insruit et natum: Medioque ut limite curras, Icare, ait, moneo. Ne, si demissior ibis, Unda gravet pennas; si celsior, ignis adurat. Inter utrumque vola.

“It is convenient that there be gods, and, as it is convenient, let us believe that there are.”
Expedit esse deos, et, ut expedit, esse putemus.

“Blemishes are hid by night and every fault forgiven; darkness makes any woman fair.”
Nocte latent mendae, vitioque ignoscitur omni, Horaque formosam quamlibet illa facit.

“So art lies hid by its own artifice.”