Terence Quotes

“Really, you have seen the old age of an eagle, as the saying is.”

Act IV, scene 2, line 8 (675).
Heauton Timorumenos (The Self-Tormentor)

Act III, scene 2, line 9 (520).
Heauton Timorumenos (The Self-Tormentor)

“Lovers' quarrels are the renewal of love.”
Amantium irae amoris integratio est.

“This and a great deal more like it I have had to put up with.”

Act III, scene 3, line 23 (555).
Variant translation: Lovers’ rows make love whole again.
Andria (The Lady of Andros)

“It is the common vice of all, in old age, to be too intent upon our interests.”

Act IV, scene 6, 8, line 746.
Eunuchus

“Many a time a man cannot be such as he would be, if circumstances do not admit of it.”

Act V, scene 8, line 30 (953).
Adelphoe (The Brothers)

Terence Quotes about time

“Jupiter, now assuredly is the time when I could readily consent to be slain, 4 lest life should sully this ecstasy with some disaster.”

Act IV, scene 1, line 53 (666).
Heauton Timorumenos (The Self-Tormentor)

Act III, scene 5, 2, line 550.
Eunuchus

“Time removes distress.”
Diem adimere aegritudinem hominibus.

“Many a time,… from a bad beginning great friendships have sprung up.”

Act III, scene 1, line 12 (421).
Variant translations:
Time heal all wounds.
Time assuages sorrow.
Heauton Timorumenos (The Self-Tormentor)

“It is the duty of all persons, when affairs are the most prosperous, 12 then in especial to reflect within themselves in what way they are to endure adversity.”

Act V, scene 2, 34, line 873.
Eunuchus

Terence Quotes about personality

“It behooves a prudent person to make trial of everything before arms.”

Act II, scene 1, line 11 (241).
Phormio

“Immortal gods! how much does one man excel another! What a difference there is between a wise person and a fool!”

Act IV, scene 7, 19, line 789.
Eunuchus

“What comes from this quarter, set it down as so much gain.”

Act II, scene 2, 1, line 232.
Eunuchus

Terence Quotes

Act V, scene 3, line 30 (816).
Adelphoe (The Brothers)

“Extreme law is often extreme injustice.”
Ius summum saepe summa est malitia.

Act IV, scene 5, line 48 (796).
Variant translations:
The highest law is often the greatest wrong.
Extreme justice is often extreme malice.
Heauton Timorumenos (The Self-Tormentor)

“Without Ceres (bread) and Bacchus (wine) Venus (love) freezes.”
Sine Cerere et Baccho friget Venus

“According as the man is, so must you humor him.”

Act IV, scene 1, 1, line 5.
Eunuchus

“I did not care one straw.”

Act III, scene 3, line 77 (431).
Adelphoe (The Brothers)

Act III, scene 1, 21, line 411.
Eunuchus

“Obsequiousness begets friends, truth hatred.”
Obsequium amicos, veritas odium parit.

“Do not they bring it to pass by knowing that they know nothing at all?”

Act I, scene i, Line 41
Andria (The Lady of Andros)

The Prologue, line 17.
Andria (The Lady of Andros)

“In fact, nothing is said that has not been said before.”
Nullumst iam dictum quod non dictum sit prius.

“As the saying is, I have got a wolf by the ears.”

Nullum est iam dictum quod non dictum sit prius.
Prologue, Line 41.
Variant translation: Nothing has yet been said that’s not been said before.
Eunuchus

“I know the disposition of women: when you will, they won't; when you won't, they set their hearts upon you of their own inclination.”

Act III, scene 2, line 21 (506).
Phormio

“It is up with you; all is over; you are ruined.”

Act IV, scene 7, 42, line 812.
Eunuchus

Act I, scene 1, 9, line 54.
Eunuchus

“Draw from others the lesson that may profit yourself.”
Periclum ex aliis facito tibi quod ex usu siet.

“Of surpassing beauty and in the bloom of youth.”

Act I, scene 2, line 37 (211).
Heauton Timorumenos (The Self-Tormentor)

“If I could believe that this was said sincerely, I could put up with anything.”

Act I, scene 1, line 45 (72).
Andria (The Lady of Andros)

Act I, scene 2, 96, line 176.
Eunuchus
Original: (la) si istuc crederem/sincere dici, quidvis possem perpeti.

“I am human, I consider nothing human alien to me.”
Homo sum: humani nil a me alienum puto.

“Take care and say this with presence of mind.”

Act I, scene 1, line 25 (77).
Variant translations:
I am a human and consider nothing human alien to me.
I am human, I consider nothing human to be alien to me.
I am human, therefore nothing relating to humanity is outside of my concern.
I am a man; I consider nothing human alien to me.
I am a man, I regard nothing that is human alien to me.
I am a man, I count nothing human foreign to me.
Heauton Timorumenos (The Self-Tormentor)

“How many things, both just and unjust, are sanctioned by custom!”

Act IV, scene 6, 31, line 769.
Eunuchus

“There is nothing so easy but that it becomes difficult when you do it reluctantly.”

Act IV, scene 7, line 11 (839).
Heauton Timorumenos (The Self-Tormentor)

“I have everything, yet have nothing; and although I possess nothing, still of nothing am I in want.”

Act IV, scene 6, line 1 (805).
Heauton Timorumenos (The Self-Tormentor)

Act II, scene 2, 12, line 243.
Eunuchus

“While there's life, there's hope.”
Modo liceat vivere, est spes.

Source: Heauton Timorumenos (The Self-Tormentor), Line 981.

“So many men, so many opinions: to each his own way.”
Quot homines tot sententiae: suus cuique mos.

“It is a maxim of old that among themselves all things are common to friends.”

Act II, scene 4, line 14 (454).
Variant translations:
There are as many opinions as there are people: each has his own view.
There are as many opinions as there are people: each has his own correct way.
There are as many opinions as there are people: everyone has their own way of doing things.
Phormio

“I only wish I may see your head stroked down with a slipper.”

Act V, scene 3, line 18 (803).
Adelphoe (The Brothers)

“I bid him look into the lives of men as though into a mirror, and from others to take an example for himself.”

Act V, scene 7, 4, line 1028.
Eunuchus

“What now if the sky were to fall?”

Act III, scene 3, line 61 (415).
Adelphoe (The Brothers)

Act IV, scene 3, line 41 (719).
Heauton Timorumenos (The Self-Tormentor)

“Moderation in all things.”
Ne quid nimis.

“I took to my heels as fast as I could.”

Not anything in excess, a translation from the Greek μηδὲν ἄγαν. "Nothing in excess" as inscribed on the Temple of Apollo at Delphi.
Source: Andria (The Lady of Andros), Line 61.

“Look you, I am the most concerned in my own interests.”

Act V, scene 2, 5, line 844.
Eunuchus

“That is a true proverb which is wont to be commonly quoted, that "all had rather it were well for themselves than for another."”

Act IV, scene 1, line 12 (636).
Andria (The Lady of Andros)

Act II, scene 5, line 15 (426).
Andria (The Lady of Andros)

“Some might, but not you.”
Aliis si licet, tibi non licet.

“The very flower of youth.”

Act IV, scene 5, line 49 (797).
Variant translations:
Though others were at liberty, you are not at liberty.
Even though it is permitted for others, it isn't permitted for you.
Heauton Timorumenos (The Self-Tormentor)

Act II, scene 3, 28, line 319.
Eunuchus

“Hence these tears.”
Hinc illae lacrimae.

Variant translation: Hence all those tears shed.
Source: Andria (The Lady of Andros), Line 126.

“Nothing is easier to say.”
Nil est dictu facilius.