“At times the world sees straight, but many times the world goes astray.”
Interdum volgus rectum videt, est ubi peccat.
Book II, epistle i, line 63
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
Quotes from bookEpistles
HoraceOriginal title Sermones (Latin)
The Epistles of Horace were published in two books, in 20 BCE and 14 BCE, respectively.
“We are but numbers, born to consume resources.”
Nos numerus sumus et fruges consumere nati.
Book I, epistle ii, line 27
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“Nam tua res agitur, paries cum proximus ardet.”
It is your concern when your neighbor's wall is on fire.
Book I, epistle xviii, line 84
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“Conquered Greece took captive her savage conqueror and brought her arts into rustic Latium.”
Graecia capta ferum victorem cepit et artes intulit agresti Latio.
Book II, epistle i, lines 156–157
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“I am not bound over to swear allegiance to any master; where the storm drives me I turn in for shelter.”
Nullius addictus iurare in verba magistri,
quo me cumque rapit tempestas, deferor hospes.
Book I, epistle i, line 14
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“Anger is a momentary madness so control your passion or it will control you.”
Ira furor brevis est: animum rege: qui nisi paret
imperat.
Book I, epistle ii, line 62
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“For why do you hasten to remove things that hurt your eyes, but if anything gnaws your mind, defer the time of curing it from year to year?”
Nam cur
quae laedunt oculum festinas demere; si quid
est animum, differs curandi tempus in annum?
Book I, epistle ii, lines 37–39; translation by C. Smart
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“Once a word has been allowed to escape, it cannot be recalled.”
Semel emissum volat irrevocabile verbum.
Book I, epistle xviii, line 71
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“To flee vice is the beginning of virtue, and to have got rid of folly is the beginning of wisdom.”
Virtus est vitium fugere et sapientia prima
stultitia caruisse.
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“Let hopes and sorrows, fears and angers be,
And think each day that dawns the last you'll see;
For so the hour that greets you unforeseen
Will bring with it enjoyment twice as keen.”
Inter spem curamque, timores inter et iras,
Omnem crede diem tibi diluxisse supremum:
Grata superveniet quae non sperabitur hora.
Book I, epistle iv, line 12 (translated by John Conington)
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“It is your concern when your neighbor's wall is on fire.”
Nam tua res agitur, paries cum proximus ardet.
Book I, epistle xviii, line 84
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“As for me, when you want a good laugh, you will find me in fine state… fat and sleek, a true hog of Epicurus' herd.”
Me pinguem et nitidum bene curata cute vises,
cum ridere voles Epicuri de grege porcum.
Book I, epistle iv, lines 15–16
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“The years as they pass plunder us of one thing after another.”
Singula de nobis anni praedantur euntes.
Book II, epistle ii, line 55
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“You may drive out Nature with a pitchfork, yet she still will hurry back.”
Naturam expellas furca, tamen usque recurret.
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“To have a great man for an intimate friend seems pleasant to those who have never tried it; those who have, fear it.”
Dulcis inexpertis cultura potentis amici; Expertus metuit.[http://books.google.com/books?id=BGxQAAAAcAAJ&q=%22Dulcis+inexpertis+cultura+potentis+amici+Expertus+metuit%22&pg=PA207#v=onepage]
Book I, epistle xviii, line 86
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“Think to yourself that every day is your last; the hour to which you do not look forward will come as a welcome surprise.”
Omnem crede diem tibi diluxisse supremum.
grata superveniet, quae non sperabitur hora.
Book I, epistle iv, line 13–14
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“Sky, not spirit, do they change, those who cross the sea.”
Caelum, non animum mutant, qui trans mare currunt.
Book I, epistle xi, line 27
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“What the discordant harmony of circumstances would and could effect.”
Quid velit et possit rerum concordia discors
Book I, epistle xii, line 19
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“Look round and round the man you recommend,
For yours will be the shame should he offend.”
Qualem commendes, etiam atque etiam aspice, ne mox incutiant aliena tibi peccata pudorem.
Book I, epistle xviii, line 76 (translated by John Conington).
Variant translation: Study carefully the character of the one you recommend, lest his misdeeds bring you shame.
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
“He who feared that he would not succeed sat still.”
Sedit qui timuit ne non succederet.
Book I, epistle xvii, line 37
Epistles (c. 20 BC and 14 BC)
