Plant no other tree before the vine.
They change their sky, not their mind, who cross the sea. A busy idleness possesses us: we seek a happy life, with ships and carriages: the object of our search is present with us.
Do not try to find out – we’re forbidden to know – what end the gods have in store for me, or for you.
Cease to admire the smoke, wealth, and noise of prosperous Rome.
Abridge your hopes in proportion to the shortness of the span of human life; for while we converse, the hours, as if envious of our pleasure, fly away: enjoy, therefore, the present time, and trust not too much to what to-morrow may produce.
The drunkard is convicted by his praises of wine.
You are judged of by what you possess.
You may suppress natural propensities by force, but they will be certain to re-appear.
There is a mean in all things; even virtue itself has stated limits; which not being strictly observed, it ceases to be virtue.
Nonsense, now and then, is pleasant.
Think of the wonders uncorked by wine! It opens secrets, gives heart to our hopes, pushes the cowardly into battle, lifts the load from anxious minds, and evokes talents. Thanks to the bottle’s prompting no one is lost for words, no one who’s cramped by poverty fails to find release.
O citizens, first acquire wealth; you can practice virtue afterward.
Painters and poets alike have always had license to dare anything! We know that, and we both claim and allow to others in their turn this indulgence.
I have completed a monument more lasting than brass.
As shines the moon amid the lesser fires.
To drink away sorrow.
To grow a philosopher’s beard.
I have to submit to much in order to pacify the touchy tribe of poets.
A bad reader soon puts to flight both wise men and fools.
A cup concealed in the dress is rarely honestly carried.