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It seldom happens that a premature shoot of genius ever arrives at maturity.

Quintilian

In almost everything, experience is more valuable than precept.
QUINTILIAN

Experience Value
An evil-speaker differs from an evil-doer only in the want of opportunity.
QUINTILIAN

Difference Evil Opportunity
The perfection of art is to conceal art.
QUINTILIAN

Art Hide Perfection
Where evil habits are once settled, they are more easily broken than mended.
QUINTILIAN

Break Easy Evil Habit Repair Settle
When defeat is inevitable, it is wisest to yield.
QUINTILIAN

Defeat Protection Wisdom
A laugh costs too much when bought at the expense of virtue.
QUINTILIAN

Cost Expense Laughter Virtue
To swear, except when necessary, is becoming to an honorable man.
QUINTILIAN

Exception Honor Man Necessary
While we are making up our minds as to when we shall begin. The opportunity is lost.
QUINTILIAN

Beginning Lost Mindset Opportunity Time
Nothing can be pleasing which is not also becoming.
QUINTILIAN

Deep Please
For all the best teachers pride themselves on having a large number of pupils and think themselves worthy of a bigger audience.
QUINTILIAN

Audience Best Big Pride Teacher Worth
Too exact, and studious of similitude rather than of beauty.
QUINTILIAN

Beautiful Exact Similar
It is worth while too to warn the teacher that undue severity in correcting faults is liable at times to discourage a boy’s mind from effort.
QUINTILIAN

Courage Effort Mistake Severe Teacher Worth
If you direct your whole thought to work itself, none of the things which invade eyes or ears will reach the mind.
QUINTILIAN

Direct Eyes Mindset Reach Work
It is the nurse that the child first hears, and her words that he will first attempt to imitate.
QUINTILIAN

Children Himself Imitation Nurse
That which offends the ear will not easily gain admission to the mind.
QUINTILIAN

Admission Ear Easy Mindset Offend
Consequently the student who is devoid of talent will derive no more profit from this work than barren soil from a treatise on agriculture.
QUINTILIAN

Agriculture Profit Student Talent Work

It seldom happens that a premature shoot of genius ever arrives at maturity.

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It seldom happens that a premature shoot of genius ever arrives at maturity.

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