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Get good counsel before you begin; and when you have decided, act promptly.

Sallust

Small endeavours obtain strength by unity of action: the most powerful are broken down by discord.
SALLUST

Action Break Discord Small Strength Unity
It is always easy enough to take up arms, but very difficult to lay them down; the commencement and the termination of war are not necessarily in the same hands; even a coward may begin, but the end comes only when the victors are willing.
SALLUST

Coward Difficult Easy Enough Hands Necessary War Willing
It is impossible that there should be so much providence in the last details, and none in the first principles. Then the arts of prophecy and of healing, which are part of the cosmos, come of the good providence of the Gods.
SALLUST

Cosmos Detail God Healing Impossible Principle
Advise well before you begin, and when you have maturely considered, then act with promptitude.
SALLUST

Act Advice Beginning Mature
Most honorable are services rendered to the State; even if they do not go beyond words, they are not to be despised.
SALLUST

Beyond Despise Honor Service State Word
Just to stir things up seemed a great reward in itself.
SALLUST

Greatness Reward
One can ever assume to be what he is not, and to conceal what he is.
SALLUST

Assume Conceal Himself
He that will be angry for anything will be angry for nothing.
SALLUST

Angry Deep Emotion Feeling Himself
All who consult on doubtful matters, should be void of hatred, friendship, anger, and pity.
SALLUST

Angry Doubt Friendship Hate Pity
The fame that goes with wealth and beauty is fleeting and fragile; intellectual superiority is a possession glorious and eternal.
SALLUST

Beautiful Fame Forever Glory Intellectual Possession Wealth
Harmony makes small things grow; lack of it makes great things decay.
SALLUST

Decay Deep Greatness Growth Harmony
It is better to use fair means and fail, than foul and conquer.
SALLUST

Better Conquer Failure Right Rule Win
The man who is roused neither by glory nor by danger it is in vain to exhort; terror closes the ears of the mind.
SALLUST

Dangerous Glory Man Mindset Terror
To have the same desires and the same aversion is assuredly a firm bond of friendship.
SALLUST

Bond Desire Friendship
Neither the army nor the treasury, but friends, are the true supports of the throne; for friends cannot be collected by force of arms, nor purchased with money; they are the offspring of kindness and sincerity.
SALLUST

Army Collection Force Kindness Kingdom Money Sincere Support Treasure True
No man underestimates the wrongs he suffers; many take them more seriously than is right.
SALLUST

Himself Man Right Serious Suffering Wrong

Get good counsel before you begin; and when you have decided, act promptly.

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Get good counsel before you begin; and when you have decided, act promptly.

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Popular Authors

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