“Ambition prompted many to become deceitful; to keep one thing concealed in the breast, and another ready on the tongue; to estimate friendships and enmities, not by their worth, but according to interest; and to carry rather a specious countenance than an honest heart.”

—  Sallust

Variant translation: It is the nature of ambition to make men liars and cheats, to hide the truth in their breasts, and show, like jugglers, another thing in their mouths, to cut all friendships and enmities to the measure of their own interest, and to make a good countenance without the help of good will.
Source: Bellum Catilinae (c. 44 BC), Chapter X, section 5

Original

Ambitio multos mortales falsos fieri subegit, aliud clausum in pectore, aliud in lingua promptum habere, amicitias inimicitiasque non ex re, sed ex commodo aestimare, magisque vultum quam ingenium bonum habere.

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "Ambition prompted many to become deceitful; to keep one thing concealed in the breast, and another ready on the tongue;…" by Sallust?
Sallust photo
Sallust 21
Roman historian, politician -86–-34 BC

Related quotes

“It is the nature of ambition to make men liars and cheats, to hide the truth in their breasts, and show, like jugglers, another thing in their mouths, to cut all friendships and enmities to the measure of their own interest, and to make a good countenance without the help of good will.”

Kenneth Tynan (1927–1980) English theatre critic and writer

Sallust, Bellum Catilinae, X, 5. This particular translation of the original Latin is from the essay "On Liberty" by Abraham Cowley: "Sallust, therefore, who was well acquainted with them both and with many such-like gentlemen of his time, says, 'That it is the nature of ambition' (Ambitio multos mortales falsos fieri coegit, etc.) 'to make men liars and cheaters; to hide the truth in their breasts, and show, like jugglers, another thing in their mouths; to cut all friendships and enmities to the measure of their own interest, and to make a good countenance without the help of good will.'" http://ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext02/cowes10.txt The Wikiquote page for Sallust has the quote and a different translation.
Misattributed

Mark Twain photo

“An unpopular opinion concerning politics or religion lies concealed in the breast of every man; in many cases not only one sample, but several. The more intelligent the man, the larger the freightage of this kind of opinions he carries, and keeps to himself.”

Mark Twain (1835–1910) American author and humorist

"The Privilege of the Grave" (1905)

Joseph Addison photo

“A true critic ought to dwell rather upon excellencies than imperfections, to discover the concealed beauties of a writer, and communicate to the world such things as are worth their observation.”

Joseph Addison (1672–1719) politician, writer and playwright

No. 291 (2 February 1712).
The Spectator (1711–1714)

Ptolemy photo

“There are three classes of friendship and enmity, since men are so disposed to one another either by preference or by need or through pleasure and pain.”

Ptolemy (100–170) Greco-Egyptian writer and astronomer of Alexandria

Book IV, sec. 7
Tetrabiblos

Uthman photo

“No one conceals something in his heart, but Allah causes it to be seen on his face or in a slip of the tongue.”

Uthman (574–656) Companion of Muhammad and third Rashidun Caliph

Farai'd al-Kalam li'l-Khulafa' al-Kiram, p. 269

William Shakespeare photo

“My tongue will tell the anger of my heart, or else my heart concealing it will break.”

William Shakespeare The Taming of the Shrew

Source: The Taming of the Shrew

“It is love and friendship, the sanctity and celebration of our relationships, that not only support a good life, but create one. Through friendships, we spark and inspire one another's ambitions.”

Wallace Stegner book Crossing to Safety

Source: Crossing to Safety

William Blake photo

“Half Friendship is the bitterest Enmity…”

William Blake (1757–1827) English Romantic poet and artist

Frontiespiece, plate 1, line 8 (as it seen on the additional plate, Fitzwilliam Museum).
1800s, Jerusalem The Emanation of The Giant Albion (c. 1803–1820)

Livy photo

“There is an old saying which, from its truth, has become proverbial, that friendships should be immortal, enmities mortal.”

Livy (-59–17 BC) Roman historian

Book XL, sec. 46
History of Rome

Samuel Johnson photo

“Always, Sir, set a high value on spontaneous kindness. He whose inclination prompts him to cultivate your friendship of his own accord, will love you more than one whom you have been at pains to attach to you.”

Samuel Johnson (1709–1784) English writer

1781, p. 479
Life of Samuel Johnson (1791), Vol IV

Related topics