Plautus: Man

Plautus was Roman comic playwright of the Old Latin period. Explore interesting quotes on man.
Plautus: 108   quotes 9   likes

“Man proposes, God disposes. (translated by Thornton)”
Sperat quidem animus : quo eveniat, diis in manu est

Bacchides Act I, scene 2, line 36.
Variant translation: The mind is hopeful : success is in God’s hands. (translator unknown)
Bacchides (The Bacchises)

“The chap that endures hard knocks like a man enjoys a soft time later on.”

Asinaria, Act II, scene 2.
Asinaria (The One With the Asses)

“Each man reaps on his own farm.”

Act III, sc. 2, line 112; reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919).
Mostellaria (The Haunted House)

“Valour’s the best reward; ‘tis valour that surpasses all things else : our liberty, our safety, life, estate, our parents, children, country, are by this preserved, protected : valour everything comprises in itself; and every good awaits the man who is possess’d of valour. (translator Thornton)”
[V]irtus praemium est optimum ; virtus omnibus remus anteit profecto : libertas salus vita res et parentes, patria et prognati tutantur, servantur : virtus omnia in sese habet, omnia adsunt bona quem penest virtus.

Amphitryon, Act II, scene 2, line 16.
Variant translation: Courage is the very best gift of all; courage stands before everything, it does, it does! It is what maintains and preserves our liberty, safety, life, and our homes and parents, our country and children. Courage comprises all things: a man with courage has every blessing.
Amphitryon

“Man is no man, but a wolf, to a stranger.”
Lupus est homo homini, non homo, quom qualis sit non novit.

Asinaria, Act II, scene 4 (line 495 of full Latin text).
Variant translation: A man is a wolf rather than a man to another man, when he hasn't yet found out what he's like.
Often quoted as "Homo homini lupus" [A man is a wolf to another man].
Asinaria (The One With the Asses)

“Whene’er a man is quartered at a friend’s, if he but stay three days, his company they will grow weary of. (translator Thornton)”
Hospes nullus tam in amici hospitium divorti potest, quin, ubi triduum continuum fuerit, jam odiosis siet.

Miles Gloriosus, Act III, scene 1, line 146.
Variant translation: No guest is so welcome in a friend's house that he will not become a nuisance after three days. (translator unknown)
Miles Gloriosus (The Swaggering Soldier)