But so it is: we tribes of woeful humans never enter upon enjoyment with a sure foot, but always alongside our happiness marches some...

For mortals are never permitted to escape destiny, but its great net I spread all around them. Apollonius. Apollonius Rhodius,...

It is this spirit which has commonly sent great nations crashing down, when one party desires to triumph over another by any means at all...

For harmony makes small states great, while the mightiest are undone by discord. Sallust. Sallust, The War with Catiline, The War with...

Hence a craving first for money, then for power, increased: these were, as it were, the root of all evils. Sallust. Sallust, The War with...

Your charming boy should learn Hesiod by heart and never forget ‘Sweat before excellence,’ etc.8 8The Gods set sweat in front of...

Cicero to Caesar: But you are a man of sense, and as such you should pray for the best, contemplate the worst, and bear whatever happens....

The art of speaking depends on much effort, continual study, varied kinds of exercise, long experience, profound wisdom, and unfailing...

Oratory is like the lyre; unless all its strings, from bottom to top, are in tune, it cannot be perfect. Quintilian. Quintilian, The...

So the worse a teacher is, the more obscure he will be also. Quintilian. Quintilian, The Orator’s Education Books 1-2. Loeb Classical...

“…no one excels in big things who fails in small things.” Quintilian. Quintilian, The Orator’s Education Books 1-2. Loeb Classical...

The excuse of “difficulty” is a cloak for our idleness. Quintilian. Quintilian, The Orator’s Education Books 1-2. Loeb Classical Library....

Quintilian on music, “Indeed, Nature herself seems to have given this to us as a gift to lighten our labours, for song heartens even the...

But with boys, the texts to be read should be those which will best nourish the mind and develop the character. Quintilian. Quintilian,...

As soon as his son is born, the father should form the highest expectations of him. He will then be more careful about him from the...

The philosopher Epicurus said, “Of all the means which are procured by wisdom to ensure happiness throughout the whole of life, by far...

The philosopher Epicurus said, “It is impossible to live a pleasant life without living wisely and well and justly, and it is impossible...

The philosopher Epicurus said, “the misfortune of the wise is better than the prosperity of the fool.” Diogenes. Diogenes Laertius,...

The philosopher Pyrrho said, “We must not assume that what convinces us is actually true.” Diogenes. Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent...

Homer “As leaves on trees, such is the life of man.” Diogenes. Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers Books 6-10. Loeb...

Democritus the philosopher said, “Speech is the shadow of action.” Diogenes. Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers Books 6-10....

Heraclitus the philosopher would say: “There is more need to extinguish insolence than an outbreak of fire” … Diogenes. Diogenes...

The philosopher Pythagoras is said to have advised his disciples as follows: Always to say on entering their own doors: “Where did I...

The philosopher Cleanthes said after he was reproached with cowardice, he replied, “That is why I so seldom go wrong.” Diogenes. Diogenes...