Quotes from work
Heauton Timorumenos

Terence Original title Heautontimoroumenos (Latin)

Heauton Timorumenos is a play written in Latin by Terence , a dramatist of the Roman Republic. The play has presented academics with some problems. Firstly it is not entirely clear whether Heauton Timorumenos is Terence's second or third play. More importantly, due to the scant survival of Menander's play of the same name, there is no simple way to judge how much Terence's version is translation and how much is invention. It is set in a village in the countryside of Attica.

“Nothing is so difficult but that it may be found out by seeking.”
Nil tam difficile est quin quaerendo investigari possit.

Terence Heauton Timorumenos

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

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

Terence Heauton Timorumenos

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)

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

Terence Heauton Timorumenos

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

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

Terence Heauton Timorumenos

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)

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

Terence Heauton Timorumenos

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

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

Terence Heauton Timorumenos

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

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

Terence Heauton Timorumenos

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

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

Terence Heauton Timorumenos

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

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

Terence Heauton Timorumenos

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

“What now if the sky were to fall?”

Terence Heauton Timorumenos

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

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

Terence Heauton Timorumenos

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)