“Nowhere do men remain loyal for long when Fortune proves unstable.”

— Silius Italicus , Punica

Book XI, lines 3–4
Punica

Original

Stat nulla diu mortalibus usquam, Fortuna titubante, fides.

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Silius Italicus 31

Roman consul, orator, and Latin epic poet 26–101

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Original: (it) Conchiudo adunque, che, variando la fortuna, e gli uomini stando nei loro modi ostinati, sono felici mentre concordano insieme, e come discordano sono infelici. Io giudico ben questo, che sia meglio essere impetuoso, che rispettivo, perchè la Fortuna è donna; ed è necessario, volendola tener sotto, batterla, ed urtarla; e si vede che la si lascia più vincere da questi che da quelli che freddamente procedono.
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